WINGS Spring 2017 1 Volume 69 No 3 Wings Official Publication of the Air Force Association SPRING 17

EDITOR COVER Editor Kylie McQueen GPS is an essential Contributing Editor Lance Halvorson system in today’s Contributions to [email protected] military, not only for Wings Editor integration in aircraft PO Box 1269, Bondi Junction NSW 1355 weapons systems and Web www.raafa.org.au precision guided munitions, but in all DIVISION CONTACTS other aircraft, networks ACT 0428 622 105 [email protected] and everyday military NSW 02 9393 3485 [email protected] systems. Its use in the US and RAAF Digital QLD 0417 452 643 [email protected] Point Precision Data SA 08 8227 0980 [email protected] Base (D-Point) is TAS 03 6234 3862 [email protected] essential for weapons VIC 03 9813 4600 [email protected] effort planning and WA 08 9288 4710 [email protected] employment. Both military and civil air use NATIONAL EXECUTIVE GPS for navigation. Almost all activities in modern usage today rely on GPS in some way, even if just for the time President Brent Espeland AM of day. Vice President Cover by Phil Crowther & Lance Halvorson. Growler Governance Bob Bunney photo: RAAF Advocacy & Entitlements Richard Kelloway OBE Communications & Media Lance Halvorson MBE Secretary Peter Colliver FEATURE 03 9813 4600 [email protected] The Rise of GPS 10 Treasurer Bob Robertson Weapon Effort Planning 22 P-8A Poseidon 32 JOIN THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION Soft Power 35 Visit www.raafa.org.au and select “Become a RAAF Air Force Today 37 Association Member” and follow the prompts. Alternatively, call the telephone number for your State, listed above. REGULARS SUBSCRIPTIONS Australian Air League 47 Contact the Editor at [email protected] or subscribe online at www. History 46 raafa.org.au , click on “Wings Archive” and follow the prompts; pay For Veterans 45 via BPay or funds transfer via your bank. A 12 month subscription is $28.00, incl GST, within Australia and AUD36.00 for Asia and Pacific Books in Brief 63 regional addresses. Last Flight 65 ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION All content in this publication is copyright and may not be reproduced CLOSING DATES FOR MATERIAL without written permission of the Editor. Views expressed are the opinions of the author/s and not necessarily those of the publisher, Summer Issue - 14 October the Air Force Association, the Royal Australian Air Force or the Autumn Issue - 14 January Department of Defence, unless specifically stated. Winter Issue - 14 April Spring Issue - 14 July

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Flight Publishing Pty Ltd ABN 66 086 424 259 Scan with your QR app to access PO Box 1269 Bondi Junction NSW 1355, Australia our web site Tel: (02) 9389 1481 Fax: (02) 9387 7143 [email protected] • flightpublishing.com.au

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Job Number: 10590546 Version: E REV 1 Client/Brand: Boeing/BDS Date: 3-9-2017 10:51 AM APPROVALS File Name: 10590546vE_R1_BDS_P8_Proven_210x297.indd QC: Steve Jablonoski Bleed: 220 mm x 307 mm Gutter: None Publications: Militaer Teknikk, Australian PA: Steve Hutchings PR: Pat Owens Trim: 210 mm x 297 mm Folds: NoneNone Defense Magazine RET: Greg Olsen PP: Marybeth Oskin Safety: 186 mm x 270 mm Media/Color Sp: PRINT/4 COLOR Notes: Bill to: 10690255 AB: Kathleen Candelaria TM: Deanna Loperena/Kate Vilt Scale: 1=1 Country: None Vendor: None Actual Size: 210x297 Language: English Output%: None GCD: Eugene Varnado Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black AD: Lauren Loehr Fonts: Helvetica Neue (55 Roman, 75 Bold; Type 1) CW: Jeff Hampton AE: Danielle Wilburn/Wes King ALL CONTENT WITHIN THIS FILE IS FOR OUTPUT ONLY BY END PRINTER/VENDOR. CHANGES, SHARING AND/OR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. LICENSING RIGHTS AND APPROVALS MUST BE REQUESTED AND APPROVED TO/BY FCB CHICAGO. Images: 10590546ct01_r4_BDS_P8_ProvenBKG.tif (327 ppi; CMYK), Boeing_white_50mm.eps TWO WAYS TO CONQUER THE WORLD.

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CRICOS: QLD 00244B, NSW 02225M | TEQSA: PRV12081 National Council After 10 years as Editor, I have decided to handover the Advocacy, Entitlements and Support keyboard, and Photoshop, to another to carry on the task of producing the content for Wings. With effect from the Spring The pace of change in veterans’ affairs is accelerating. 2017 issue (Sep 17), I now hand over to Mark Eaton, who will Regrettably, there is a loud cadre within the veterans’ carry on as Editor of a great aviation and veterans' publication. community that are still baying for a Royal Commission into After a working party review of Wings back in 2007, when DVA. Let’s look in this edition at some of the progress being I assumed the Editor position, the content was changed to made. You might also like to go back to the Winter edition include articles of a greater national appeal and import. The to remind yourself of some of the other gains that I’ve not 'new' content includes items that relate to the Air Force Today, mentioned here. I must add that the views expressed in this important to show how the RAAF meets Australia's interests article are my own and do not necessarily have the approval as a significant participant in world affairs. They also identify of the National Council. The Future Air Force and how the RAAF will become the In 2014, the (then) Minister for Veterans’ Affairs authorised world's first 5th generation Air Force. release of the strategic development plan ‘DVA Towards Of course our history is important in identifying where RAAF 2020’. The plan was updated in 2016 and can be downloaded is going as it needs to know where it has come from. RAAF as a pdf via: https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/ Association members know this—you all had a part in making publications/corporate/towards2020.pdf it happen. We have a proud heritage and with the appointment The plan puts teeth into many of the weaknesses and failings of the Director-General History and Heritage (DGHH-AF) , that the Australian Public Service Commission identified in its the Chief of Air Force knows its importance, as do most RAAF 2014 ‘Review of DVA’. The report is accessible on: http://www. members— and Association members. apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-publications/ My job as Editor has been 'full-on' but gratifying to see the capability-review-dva content produced in such a good, easily read format by Kylie The strategic objectives include development of a completely at Flight Publishing. Meeting deadlines and the provision of new information communication technology system, further content has been challenging and always will be—helped by training of Delegates, and a culture change program. While members who have provided great articles. There have been it is unsubstantiated, I have heard it said that if a Delegate a few brickbats and the odd 'curved ball', all of which were displays an inappropriate attitude to a client, they are deflected with little effort. But the bouquets out-numbered counselled. If their behaviour is repeated, they are replaced. and out-shone the negatives; to these, I thank. Certainly, in my observation over many months and through The National President has supported Wings with interesting multiple contact, the DVA Leadership Team is fully behind 'Words from National' and VP Advocacy and Entitlements Veteran Centric Reform (VCR). In this regard, the attitude has always produced well prepared articles for veterans with of the ‘young Turks’ is bewildering. As one senior officer has so many very important messages. The Office of Air Force said publically on a number of occasions, the older generation History and the Air Power Development Centre have been is generally pretty satisfied with the way the Department excellent on permitting articles to be reprinted—the Air Force engages with and supports them; but we just do not know Association (USAF) magazine have also allowed reprinting how to build a bridge with the younger veterans. of important air power activities in USA, many of which affect the RAAF. This, of course, brings us to the strategic direction change that RAAFA has workshopped. A clear consensus I have heard The Air Force Image Library has many action images of expressed by almost every executive in every traditional today's Air Force; they have been a great source. AWM has ESO is that unless we attract membership by the younger also been the source of aviation imagery of years gone, generations of veterans, we will wither away to nothing. In often the only source. DVA have provided many articles of other words, the challenge that the Department faces is one importance to veterans. that we share. Of course, Wings would not be the quality magazine it is In this respect, we – as an ESO community – owe it to our without the support from Flight Publishing and Kylie McQueen, forebears to ask ourselves a series of related question: the layout and designer. The well laid out format is easy to read for all and especially for 'tired eyes'. The covers that • Why is that we are content with the benefits we are eligible Phil Crowther has designed over many years have had a for under VEA and SRCA? great impact on the appeal of Wings, the 'wow' factor has • Why is it that a vocal cohort amongst younger veterans been significant.T o all who have assisted and supported me feels aggrieved at the benefits they are entitled to under in Wings over the last 10 years, I thank you. SRCA and MRCA? Lance Halvorson • Why is it that we feel that the Department deals fairly with Past Editor us, and some younger generation veterans vilify Delegates September 2017 and senior DVA officers at the deeply personal level on 'Airspeed, altitude, and brains. Two of these are always Social Media? necessary to successfully complete the mission.' Since a young veteran’s suicide recently, the Royal 'It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you Commission into DVA has held a public rally in Melbourne just bombed.‘ - US Air Force Manual and another is planned in Brisbane before this article is published. Posts on Facebook include photographs of the

WINGS Spring 2017 10 National Council deceased veteran’s family with ugly captions that ‘DVA killed but, unfortunately, I won’t see it in my life time no matter how the veteran’. An advocate colleague of mine witnessed the much I want it. Then, once legislated, the benefit must be return to DVA Offices of the senior DVA officer who went out appropriated. All Government Departments are under the to the family’s home after the death to convey the Minister, financial constraint that, to improvements in one benefit must Secretary and Department’s condolences and to provide be offset by savings in another. support. My colleague said that he had never seen this We all have a role to play in guiding the fractious by supporting officer so profoundly affected. From personal discussion with those that understand. But, we also have an unambiguous Delegates, I am aware that the suicide of one of their cases role to support those whose conditions are the result of deeply traumatises them. inadequate workplace health and safety regulations. I recently The depths have been plumbed, and I believe it is time that read a report by a small group of ex-RAAF firefighters who, our generation accepted the responsibility we were handed by of their own volition, were able to present their case to our forebears. To do so, we need first to educate ourselves in senior DVA officers and to Chief of Air Force. I feel ashamed the legislation, to read the criticisms by the Government’s own that RAAFA neither knew of their concerns nor supported review authority and the Departmental Secretary’s forthright them in progressing them. A lesson, perhaps, that has wide response to those criticisms, to understand in depth the ramifications. strategic changes for which the first tranche of $166m was R.N. (Dick) Kelloway, National VP Advocacy and Entitlements appropriated in this year’s Budget. August 2017 Then, we need to engage the next generation. Interestingly, Facebook posts by younger veterans are now starting to feature expressions of satisfaction about DVA support. We can follow the sites and ‘Like’ the favourable posts. Where egregious comments are being made we can – on the basis of knowledge gained by researching the facts – seek to redress the misrepresentations. From experience, factual posts antagonise and elicit pretty nasty attack. But, there will also be a smattering of agreement. It is also interesting to see that other ESOs are starting to draw the line. As one fellow ADSO Member has posted on Facebook under the by-line: What has happened to warrior ethics? He continued: “I am getting increasingly concerned and disappointed in the foul language, hostile vitriol, playing the man and the woman, instead of the ball with what I see and read on social media.” There are some extraordinarily good things happening in the veterans’ support space that are already materially improving the responsiveness of the ‘system’ to the needs of younger veterans. These include: • the Non-Liability Health Care initiative that opens treatment for mental health conditions to any ex-ADF member with one day’s full-time service irrespective of whether the condition is related to service or not • streamlined processing by which of liability is accepted ‘automatically’ for a range of musculoskeletal conditions where the veteran has provided service in identified employment categories of a more than a certain minimum period • the MyService portal that, while still in beta form, allows a veteran to submit a claim online through a Wizard that seeks responses to less than ten questions and with a diagnosis attached processes liability within an average of two days (and has done so in one case in 30 minutes) The strategic change will, inevitably, be slower that either the Minister, the Department or the veteran community want. But, let’s put that into context. The benefits that veterans are entitled to are legislated. Any change of benefit requires a change of legislation. To put an example on the table. At a recent meeting of ESO executives, a senior DVA officer said, I would love to have just one Act covering all veterans;

WINGS Spring 2017 11 The Rise

The Air Force’s Global Positioning System of By Gideon Grudo, GPSDigital Platforms Editor has quickly revolutionized military accuracy —and civilian life.

he Air Force’s Global Positioning System—known Tworldwide simply as GPS—affects the lives of bil- lions of people every second. It’s how Uber drivers find you; how your automatic teller transactions are timed; and how ships at sea fix their location. It is a global timing and location utility that the Air Force offers for free to the entire world.

WINGS Spring 2017 12 The Air Force’s Global Positioning System has quickly revolutionized military accuracy —and civilian life.

WINGS Spring 2017 13 GPS is also how USAF delivers precise combat power 1 and exercises precision warfare. In fact, virtually every weapon the Air Force drops in the Middle East today is guided by GPS. Its military worth has been proved in conflicts spanning from Operation Desert Storm in 1991 to Operation Inherent Resolve. GPS, fully operational for 22 years, traces its roots to the Cold War. The system’s genesis came with Sputnik, the Soviet Union’s first satellite, which was lofted in 1957. Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists, following Sputnik’s radio beeps, noticed they increased in frequency as the satellite approached and decreased as it flew away—a classic example of the Doppler effect. The MIT scientists reasoned that they could use this principle, using future satellites, to determine data such as location, speed, and elevation. By 1959, the Navy had launched its Transit system, the forerunner of GPS. This system, according to GPS World, was based on solar-powered satellites. It provided position data to bal- listic missile-carrying submarines every few hours, but it was only accurate to within 25 meters, or about 82 feet. In 1963, the Aerospace Corp. proposed a system of satellites to provide precise location information to vehicles, especially those moving really fast. More satellite development programs emerged, including the Naval Research Laboratory’s Time and Navigation (TIMATION) program and USAF’s Project 621B. In 1973, Pentagon leaders recognized that separate service programs aimed at a satellite navigation system would create problems and proposed a unified military approach. Air Force Col. Bradford Parkinson, director of the NAV- 3 STAR/GPS Joint Program Office, “assembled about a dozen members of the JPO over Labor Day weekend in 1973 and directed them to synthesize the design for a new satellite navigation system,” according to Air Force historian Rick W. Sturdevant in 2007’s Societal Impact of Spaceflight. The result, in 1974, was the NAVSTAR system, which, according to Sturdevant was “the first satellite navigation system that enabled users to determine precisely their location in three dimensions and time within billionths of a second.” Good as it was, military users wanted better. The drivers of “GPS development were the need to deliver weapons

Previous pages: An illustration of a NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block I satellite. This was the GPS demonstration system, and it was followed by the GPS II operational system. In 1974, Rockwell International won a contract to build the first eight GPS Block I satellites. /1/ Soldiers wearing backpack receivers plot their position using NAVSTAR GPS satellites in 1979. /2/ A GPS II satellite undergoes testing in the Mark I Space Chamber at Arnold AFB, Tenn., in 1985. /3/ Personnel at the Mark I Space Chamber take a close look at the stowed solar array panels of a NAVSTAR GPS I satellite. /4/ Sgt. Darrell Harrison, 1002nd Space Systems Support Squadron at Falcon AFS, Colo., loads a magnetic tape reel onto a drive in the NAVSTAR main computer room. /5/ A GPS Block I satellite is prepared for a test at Rockwell International’s Thermal Vacuum Chamber in Seal Beach, Calif. /6/ An illustration of a GPS Block II satellite. The first full-scale operational GPS satellites, these were designed to provide 14 days of operation without any contact from controllers. In 1983 Rockwell International was awarded an additional contract to

Previous pages: Rockwell Space Division illustration. These pages: DOD via National Archives; USAF; USAF; SSgt. Scott Stewart/USAF via National Archives; Rockwell International; GPS.gov Archives; USAF; SSgt. Scott Stewart/USAF via National These pages: DOD via National Previous pages: Rockwell Space Division illustration. build 28 GPS Block II and Block IIA satellites.

28 2017 AIR WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPECIAL EDITION H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM

WINGS Spring 2017 14 GPS is also how USAF delivers precise combat power 1 and exercises precision warfare. In fact, virtually every 2 weapon the Air Force drops in the Middle East today is 2 guided by GPS. Its military worth has been proved in conflicts spanning from Operation Desert Storm in 1991 to Operation Inherent Resolve. GPS, fully operational for 22 years, traces its roots to the Cold War. The system’s genesis came with Sputnik, the Soviet Union’s first satellite, which was lofted in 1957. Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists, following Sputnik’s radio beeps, noticed they increased in frequency as the satellite approached and decreased as it flew away—a classic example of the Doppler effect. The MIT scientists reasoned that they could use this principle, using future satellites, to determine data such as location, speed, and elevation. By 1959, the Navy had launched its Transit system, the forerunner of GPS. This system, according to GPS World, was based on solar-powered satellites. It provided position data to bal- listic missile-carrying submarines every few hours, but it was only accurate to within 25 meters, or about 82 feet. In 1963, the Aerospace Corp. proposed a system of satellites to provide precise location information to vehicles, especially those moving really fast. More satellite development programs emerged, including the Naval Research Laboratory’s Time and Navigation (TIMATION) program and USAF’s Project 621B. In 1973, Pentagon leaders recognized that separate service programs aimed at a satellite navigation system would create problems and proposed a unified military approach. Air Force Col. Bradford Parkinson, director of the NAV- 3 STAR/GPS Joint Program Office, “assembled about a dozen 4 5 members of the JPO over Labor Day weekend in 1973 and directed them to synthesize the design for a new satellite navigation system,” according to Air Force historian Rick W. Sturdevant in 2007’s Societal Impact of Spaceflight. The result, in 1974, was the NAVSTAR system, which, according to Sturdevant was “the first satellite navigation system that enabled users to determine precisely their location in three dimensions and time within billionths of a second.” Good as it was, military users wanted better. The drivers of “GPS development were the need to deliver weapons 6

Previous pages: An illustration of a NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block I satellite. This was the GPS demonstration system, and it was followed by the GPS II operational system. In 1974, Rockwell International won a contract to build the first eight GPS Block I satellites. /1/ Soldiers wearing backpack receivers 6 plot their position using NAVSTAR GPS satellites in 1979. /2/ A GPS II satellite undergoes testing in the Mark I Space Chamber at Arnold AFB, Tenn., in 1985. /3/ Personnel at the Mark I Space Chamber take a close look at the stowed solar array panels of a NAVSTAR GPS I satellite. /4/ Sgt. Darrell Harrison, 1002nd Space Systems Support Squadron at Falcon AFS, Colo., loads a magnetic tape reel onto a drive in the NAVSTAR main computer room. /5/ A GPS Block I satellite is prepared for a test at Rockwell International’s Thermal Vacuum Chamber in Seal Beach, Calif. /6/ An illustration of a GPS Block II satellite. The first full-scale operational GPS satellites, these were designed to provide 14 days of operation without any contact from controllers. In 1983 Rockwell International was awarded an additional contract to

28 2017 AIR WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPECIAL EDITION H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM 2017 AIR WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPECIAL EDITION H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM 29

WINGS Spring 2017 15 1

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precisely on target and to reverse the proliferation of navigation systems in the US military,” wrote Sturdevant. However, from the very start, “the Department of Defense (DOD) recognized the usefulness of GPS to the worldwide civilian community.” A GPS prototype launched in 1978. The system worked when a surface or air unit interrogated the satellite for location and timing information. The more satellites that are within line-of-sight to the user, the more accurate the information. The danger of a nonstop satellite broadcast, though, was that hostile users would be able to take advantage of it. The Air Force designed into GPS a feature called “selective availability,” which allowed US and approved allied military users a stronger and more precise GPS signal than /1/ B-52G bombers from the 1708th Bomb Wing prepare for a that available to commercial entities. mission during Desert Storm on Feb. 26, 1991. Historians some- In 1983, GPS became even more broadly available. The times call it “the first space war” due to the extensive use of space-based satellites. /2/ F-16CJs from the 157th Expeditionary tragedy of Korean Airline Flight 007, shot down by Soviet Fighting Squadron wait for a load of 1,000-pound GBU-31A Joint interceptors after straying off course, provided the impetus Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) during Operation Iraqi Freedom for making the signal broadly available. on April 8, 2003. JDAM-equipped bombs are coupled to a GPS receiver, giving them near-precision accuracy. /3/ A soldier holds After the Korean Airline incident,“President Ronald a GPS receiver used during Desert Storm. /4/ Technicians from Reagan reassured the world that the coarser signal would Hughes Space and Communications monitor a GPS II satellite during assembly in the 1990s. /5/ TSgt. C. J. McClain, 36th Airlift remain continually and universally available at no cost Squadron, uses a GPS unit during a 2005 exercise at Yokota AB, once GPS became fully operational,” Sturdevant wrote. Japan. /6/ The fifth GPS Block IIR-M satellite is launched in 2007 This took another 12 years. from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. /7/ An illustration of a GPS IIF satellite. Built by Boeing, GPS II consists of 12 satellites featur- Desert Storm saw the first heavy use of GPS in combat, ing enhanced accuracy and robustness. The final satellite was

TSgt. Donald McMichael/USAF via National Archives (NA); SMSgt. Edward E. Snyder/USAF (via NA); USAF; Hughes Space & Communications; MSgt. Val Gempis/USAF; GPS.gov; NASA Archives (NA); SMSgt. Edward E. Snyder/USAF (via NA); USAF; Hughes Space & Communications; MSgt. Val TSgt. Donald McMichael/USAF via National offering unprecedented precision and changing the way launched on Feb. 5, 2016.

30 2017 AIR WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPECIAL EDITION H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM

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precisely on target and to reverse the proliferation of navigation systems in the US military,” wrote Sturdevant. However, from the very start, “the Department of Defense (DOD) recognized the usefulness of GPS to the worldwide civilian community.” A GPS prototype launched in 1978. The system worked when a surface or air unit interrogated the satellite for location and timing information. The more satellites that are within line-of-sight to the user, the more accurate the information. The danger of a nonstop satellite broadcast, though, was that hostile users would be able to take advantage of it. The Air Force designed into GPS a feature called “selec- 7 tive availability,” which allowed US and approved allied military users a stronger and more precise GPS signal than /1/ B-52G bombers from the 1708th Bomb Wing prepare for a that available to commercial entities. mission during Desert Storm on Feb. 26, 1991. Historians some- In 1983, GPS became even more broadly available. The times call it “the first space war” due to the extensive use of space-based satellites. /2/ F-16CJs from the 157th Expeditionary tragedy of Korean Airline Flight 007, shot down by Soviet Fighting Squadron wait for a load of 1,000-pound GBU-31A Joint interceptors after straying off course, provided the impetus Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) during Operation Iraqi Freedom for making the signal broadly available. on April 8, 2003. JDAM-equipped bombs are coupled to a GPS receiver, giving them near-precision accuracy. /3/ A soldier holds After the Korean Airline incident,“President Ronald a GPS receiver used during Desert Storm. /4/ Technicians from Reagan reassured the world that the coarser signal would Hughes Space and Communications monitor a GPS II satellite during assembly in the 1990s. /5/ TSgt. C. J. McClain, 36th Airlift remain continually and universally available at no cost Squadron, uses a GPS unit during a 2005 exercise at Yokota AB, once GPS became fully operational,” Sturdevant wrote. Japan. /6/ The fifth GPS Block IIR-M satellite is launched in 2007 This took another 12 years. from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. /7/ An illustration of a GPS IIF satellite. Built by Boeing, GPS II consists of 12 satellites featur- Desert Storm saw the first heavy use of GPS in combat, ing enhanced accuracy and robustness. The final satellite was 2017 AIR WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPECIAL EDITION H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM 31

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4 5 wars are fought. Desert Storm also highlighted the critical importance of space contributions to airpower. “Precision navigation and timing, GPS. That was the dawn of criticality of GPS to military operations,” Maj. Gen. Paul T. “PJ” Johnson, who earned an Air Force Cross for his role in Desert Storm, told Air Force Magazine. (See “Perspectives on the Storm,” April 2016.) Desert Storm also saw the debut of the JSTARS aircraft, which gave the coalition the capability to see, track, and target enemy ground formations in any weather, day or night. With all the attack packages airborne, “we saw the ability to dynamically … detect, … characterize, and … target” ground formations, Johnson said. During Desert Storm, the GPS constellation was limited, with 19 satellites of various generations: GPS I, GPS II, and GPS IIA. These only allowed for 19 to 20 daily hours of 3-D coverage. Shortly after the war, the Air Force used GPS to position the airdrop of food in Somalia during 1993’s Operation /1/ The third USAF GPS IIF satellite blasts off in 2012 on a United Restore Hope. It was used in various peacekeeping opera- Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket at Cape Canaveral. /2/ A GPS IIF tions across the planet, from the Haitian crisis in 1994 to undergoes final encapsulation before launch at Cape Canaveral in 2015. /3/ Avionics technician SSgt. Josh Mitchell, 158th Fighter the Balkan crisis in the mid-90s. Wing, Burlington Arpt., Vt., performs a GPS operations check On April 27, 1995, GPS became fully operational, with on an F-16 during Red Flag 15-1 at Nellis AFB, Nev., in 2015. /4/ SSgt. Brian Collins (left) and SrA. Travis Mackey, both with a complete constellation of 24 operational Block II/IIA the 775th Civil Engineering Squadron, enter coordinates into satellites. It provided information to both military and a GPS receiver during training near the Utah Test and Training civilian users. Range in 2014. /5/ TSgt. William Henry, 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, demonstrates the capabilities of his handheld GPS The new technology allowed the proliferation of what

unit at Red Flag-Alaska at Eielson AFB, Alaska, in 2016. would eventually become the GPS our phones and com- Queen/USAF; SSgt. Shawn Nickel/USAF Taylor Amn. Thomas Spangler/USAF; Alliance; USAF; SrA. United Launch

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puters use. Those satellites are the ones civilians still use today for these purposes. In 1998, Vice President Al Gore said he wanted to see improvements to the GPS system, and Congress obliged with a program christened GPS III. It was approved for development in 2000. In 2000, President Bill Clinton ordered the end of selective availability, which had offered civilian users slightly degraded accuracy relative to the military signal. Later, in 2007, President George W. Bush agreed to drop the ability to reinstate selective availability from the GPS III requirements. In recent years, adversaries have experimented with 6 /1/ An illustration of a GPS IIF satellite in orbit. The satellites jamming of GPS signals, persuading the Air Force to have have allowed a proliferation of technology, bringing GPS to USAF “day without space” exercises in which participants don’t weapon systems, computers, and phones. /2/ Technicians at have access to GPS signals and must resort to more old- the Lockheed Martin Anechoic Test Facility in Denver prepare a GPS III satellite in May 2016. /3/ An artist’s illustration of a GPS fashioned methods of navigation and target identification. III satellite. /4/ In this artist’s concept, a GPS III satellite is shown In 2008, Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract to above the Earth. The first GPS III satellite is expected to launch in 2018. /5/ TSgt. Matt Gerrits, a 307th Aircraft Maintenance develop the GPS III satellites. According to the company, Squadron armament specialist, loads a 500-pound JDAM under once these satellites are launched and operating, they will the wing of a B-52 at Barksdale AFB, La., on Feb. 1, 2017. The provide signals three times more accurate than current JDAM kit converts unguided free-fall bombs into accurate smart munitions by using a GPS receiver to steer the weapon after GPS spacecraft, improve the anti-jamming capabilities for release. /6/ A technician works on Lockheed Martin’s first GPS III military users by eight times, and greatly enhance global satellite for the Air Force. It successfully completed system-level connectivity for civilian users. thermal vacuum testing, validating the satellite design. The test confirmed the satellite’s integrity and capabilities by exposing The first batch of GPS III satellites is expected to reach it to a long cycle of simulated space temperature extremes in a orbit in spring 2018. J depressurized chamber. Boeing; Patrick H. Corkery/Lockheed Martin; Lockheed Martin illustration; Lockheed Martin illustration; TSgt. Ted Daigle/USAF; Lockheed Martin Ted TSgt. Boeing; Patrick H. Corkery/Lockheed Martin; Lockheed Martin illustration;

34 2017 AIR WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPECIAL EDITION H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM 2017 AIR WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPECIAL EDITION H WWW.AIRFORCEMAG.COM 35 Reprint courtesy of Air Force Magazine, published by the Air Force Association Flight 2014-10-17T12:21:23+11:00

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WINGS Spring 2017 23 Feature Weapons Effort Planning In the overall strategy of war, the destruction of some targets guided munitions (PGM), the over target requirements were will be essential to meet the aims of the military situation. astronomical and in many cases, unachievable. However, Some targets will be critical to the advancement of any CEP is a statistic, with all the variables its use implies. operational situation, ie, their destruction or not. In many Notwithstanding the large number of bombing sorties, cases, a 'firepower kill' is sufficient to render a target low weapons effort planning was in its infancy in World War II. It threat to any operation, with the result it can be bypassed. came of age after the war when the damage effects of the Some targets may be so heavily defended that a strike vast number of weapons were analysed in detail by the RAF would be very high risk, rendering any attack aircraft highly and USAF. Weapons Manuals AP 642G (RAF) and JMEMS vulnerable. In such cases, the value of the destruction of the (USAF) became the bible/s for Squadron and Wing Weapons target must be assessed against the potential loss of aircraft Officers. and crew/s; ie, is it economic to attack such a target and what In analysing the over target requirements, a number of will its destruction achieve in the overall strategy. Equally, what other factors need to be considered: weapons systems are the ramifications to the tactical situation if the target is not suitability (usually, few options available), target acquisition, destroyed; will a firepower kill (Pk) suffice? Analysis must be crew training, weapons systems serviceability, degraded carried out to determine if the strike is 'worth it'. accuracies due to target defences, possible counter air This article reviews how Weapons Effort Planning evolved and opposition, ie, fighter aircraft and the weather. why it became so important in achieving the most effective Allowances must then be made for various ineffectives such use of air power for aircraft, weapons and targets. These three as: major factors were not always matched; even in the days since they were identified as essential. Political and bureaucratic • Expected weapon failures. interference have cancelled or changed the outcomes of many • Aircraft unserviceability, on the ground before take-off and weapons systems in their formative stages. These factors enroute to the target. are not discussed in any length, nor is the strategic use of air • Aircraft which, for various reasons, fail to acquire the power following World War II. target. • Attrition due to enemy action. Weapons Effort Planning involves analysis to provide the best assessment of the value of the target, whether its destruction While some of the processes detailed above may seem is attainable at reasonable 'cost' and if the aim is achievable. academic, or self explanatory, most require serious Such an assessment cannot make the decision, but it can consideration in the weapons effort planning processes. identify the likelihood or not of success. The most suitable The advent of PGMs has certainly changed the planning delivery platform is not often a determinant in this analysis, processes, but consideration of the factors is still essential. As because there was little choice in many cases and in other an example, the success of USAF strike operations by F-111F situations, it was obvious. aircraft in Libya using PGMs was demonstrated. 18 x F-111F aircraft (six spares returned after 1st AAR) flew Mission Ghost Following a decision that a target is 'high priority', the target's Rider from RAF Lakenheath in UK, with air-to-air refuelling vulnerability to attack must be determined— its construction, and, skirting Europe, to strike at targets in Libya. Each aircraft size and shape. Analysis of the target location and defences employed used Pave Tack and released GBU-10 2000lb (SAMs, AAA, ECM) at the target and on the approach is Paveway II munitions on the selected targets. essential. A high threat environment could inhibit an attack. In the current renditions of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), As well as tankers, four EF-111A electronic warfare aircraft the Rules of Engagement (RofE) must also be considered to jammed Libyan radars and their communications systems. limit collateral damage. Nine F-111F aircraft attacked the Azziziyah Barracks in Tripoli, six attacked the airport and three attacked the terrorist training Traditionally, weapons effort planning is very systematic camps at Sidi Bilal. One F-111F, and the last to attack, was and logical in its approach to arrive at a force requirement shot down and the crew listed as MIA. Navy EA-6s and A-7s calculation, ie, the number and types of weapons and aircraft suppressed radar sites and attacked two sites in Benghazi. to achieve the required level of damage. Targets will usually Post mission analysis of cockpit video recordings clearly require direct hits, or close 'misses', to achieve a specific showed the success of the attacks. damage level (ie, destroyed, immobilised, firepower kill) and the force required to achieve the desired probability of World War II success. At the outbreak of the war in September 1939, the primary The basis for calculations in determining the success is the instrument of the UK air power lay with RAF Bomber 'single shot probability' (SSP), which depends on the target Command. However, during the first 18 months of World War dimensions and the aiming accuracy, the circular error II, the Command's operations had been many and varied, probable— CEP1 (or 50%CE). Before the days of precision

1 CEP is defined as the radius of a circle into which 50% of all individ- it does not infer certainty in hitting a target. A further deduction is that if ually aimed weapons are expected to fall. It also means that there is a the target is of the same size as the CEP, the SSP is 0.5. 50% probability that a weapon, or weapons, could fall within the CEP—

WINGS Spring 2017 24 Feature ranging from leaflet dropping to an attempt at launching a attacked in May were the oil storage tanks at Hamburg strategic bombing offensive against Germany. and Bremen, oil refineries near Hannover and the rail and road communications. In June 1940, aircraft factories and The period following the declaration of war in September fabrication plants were included as targets. 1939 was called the 'phony war'. The war started in earnest on the morning of 10 May 1940, when the Germans invaded However, in the attacks that followed, only a fraction of the the Netherlands, Belgium and France In an air of crisis, a small force (30-60 aircraft) released their 250-lb (113-kg) coalition government was formed with Winston Churchill as GP or 500-lb (227-kg) GP bombs near the selected target, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. One of the first acts even in moonlight and with little enemy opposition. The of the new War Cabinet was to authorize unlimited bombing damage sustained by German industry was inconsequential.4 to the east of the Rhine River. It became obvious that at night, contending with German air defences, crews could not find precision targets like oil Despite the heroism of the crews who flew about 21,000 plants or even marshalling yards—if these were to remain sorties (17,500 night) in 1940, Bomber Command's role in the as the main targets, most of the bombs would fail to cause war was being diverted at the whims of the War Cabinet, the any damage. Ministry of Economic Warfare and the Admiralty. Insufficient attention was being given to the Allied Bombing Campaign Bombers had to be given more effective navigations aids so against Germany, in particular, to the targeting of transport that crews could find their targets. The only navaids available communications and oil supplies and sources. were astro/sextant, visual and limited radio navaids. While the navigator used the airplot/manual DR, aircraft manoeuvring in Further diversification of effort occurred in 1941—and events enemy airspace and the frequent bad weather, made target that questioned the very existence of Bomber Command. identification extremely difficult. Cloudless moonlit nights There was growing skepticism about the accuracy and made navigation easier, but it also made it easier for German effects of raids on Germany and elsewhere. The Butt Report2 night fighters. confirmed that only about 25% of crews reached the target on the night sorties; and in the haze of the Ruhr, only one in Bomber Command then turned to attacking targets it could 10 dropped its bombs within 8km of the designated target. All find and hit; German towns and cities. The concept was called pointed to the simple fact that available navigation aids could 'area or carpet bombing'. Bomber Command considered it the not provide the accuracy required to acquire the target/s. only policy to achieve any effects at all. The aim in attacking German towns was intended to cause such destruction and With continued demands on Bomber Command's resources dislocation that the industrial areas and transport locations from the Admiralty, RAF Middle East and Coastal Command, would cease to function. Small targets such as factories could the Air Staff halted operations in December 1941 to conserve not be identified and attacked by the bomber force at the time. the Command as a viable entity. Over the period July to December 1941, Bomber command flew 14,833 night and During these early periods, two other factors became 1643 day sorties; 605 bombers failed to return and another important—the effect of severe weather conditions on heavily- 200 were otherwise destroyed. Bomber command had laden bombers of relatively low performance and the diversion provided poor dividends for the resources invested.3 of the primary aim. Following Italy's declaration of war on 10 June 1940, Bomber Command, tasked 36 Whitley bombers A concerted effort was made on the night of 11-12 May on a 1195nm (2175-km) round trip to Turin with the Fiat works 1942 when 18 Whitleys and 18 Hampdens (with five in-flight as the primary target. After refuelling in the Channel Islands aborts) attacked road and rail communications in the Mӧn- the 'force' hit severe icing and turbulence with cumulo-nimbus chengladbach area in Germany. The aircraft navigated to (Cb) thunderclouds rising to over 25,000ft (7620 m) enroute. the target by 'dead reckoning' (DR) navigation and bombed Of the total tasked, 23 aborted, two bombed the Genoa docks through cloud, even though the target could not be positively and 10 claimed to hit the targets in Turin. identified. One Whitley and two Hampdens failed to return. Little knowledge of the dimensions and constructions of the If Bomber Command could not quickly induce a German targets were known; the assumption is that targeting analysts collapse under the impact of the area offensive, or if the determined that general purpose (GP) bombs would result in USAAF could not stop production of German fighters, then some blast and fragmentation damage to the structure/s, and the continued combined bomber offensive was heading for probably with little expectation of significant damage other a crisis. than a 'nuisance' factor. The Allied expectations that 'things would get better' following The Strategic Bombing Offensive the Dambuster raids in May 1943, the Battle of Berlin in late 1943-early 1944 and the USAAF experience in the attack on The strategic bombing offensive against the Reich started Schweinfurt, did not materialise. In the attack on Schweinfurt, in May 1940 when 99 Wellingtons, Whitleys and Hampdens 290 B-17s pressed on against waves of German fighters and attacked steel and oil targets in the Ruhr. Other targets attacked the target; however, 60 aircraft were shot down and 17 heavily damaged. 2 A report ordered by the Prime Minister's Scientific Adviser, Lord Cher- Operations against targets that required precision bombing, well, and conducted by D.M. Butt, a member of the Cabinet Secretariat, both day and night, could not be continued. Had they on 600 night sorties in June & July 1941, and submitted on 18 August continued in similar circumstances, the USAAF bombing 1941. RAF Historical Division, 1983 3 History of the Second World War; Imperial War Museum, Purnell & Sons 1968 4 Survey of Allied Bombing. - post war by RAF

WINGS Spring 2017 25 Feature forces could not have prevailed. The American plan to strike selectively at German industry by daylight heavy bombing precision attacks had apparently been decisively defeated by the German fighter force. In the Battles of Berlin, the Ruhr, Nuremburg and Hamburg, Bomber Command lost substantially more aircraft and crews than it had available for operations. Such losses could not be sustained. Bomber Command shifted their offensive from Berlin and the German towns to the railway infrastructure in northern France. Strong Medicine Although both the RAF and USAAF sustained significant losses in the operations described, the introduction of the Lancaster and the Mosquito, airborne radar and technology advances in airborne equipment and weapons demonstrated a new degree of air warfare. Targets could be acquired, identified and attacked which resulted in significant levels of damage. Essen, the home of Krupps, and Hamburg were severely damaged. Surely this medicine would prove too strong. Surely the destruction wreaked would be the coup de grâce for Germany. specific targets, eg, Barnes Wallis' mine, to breach the Mӧhne and Eder dams by 617 SQN RAF, the famous Dambusters. Success in the Battle of Hamburg had turned not only upon Very large bombs were developed; the 'earthquake' bombs the great weight of the attack delivered but upon the unusually —the Grand Slam of 22,000lbs (10,000kg) and the Tall high degree of accuracy achieved and the very short space Boy of 10,000lbs (4500kg)—designed to penetrate of time into which the operations were compressed. Apart concrete structures, sending out shock waves to damage from some harassing and the light American daylight attacks, foundations. They were employed against targets with large Bomber Command completed the Battle, over four nights in structures, eg, submarine pens, railway bridges/tunnels/ July and August 1943, with over 700 bombers. Over 3,000 viaducts and the V2 rocket site/s at Peenemünde. sorties were flown and nearly 9,000 tons of bombs dropped. In all but the last attack, when the weather was bad, highly concentrated patterns of incendiary bombs, of which about 4,500 tons were dropped, were achieved, with the result that the fires in Hamburg got out of control.5 Target Matching and Bombs In the early days of the World War II, weapon to target matching was not often carried out. Initially, crews flew against targets with what bombs the RAF had. British bombs were less effective than German bombs—their charge/weight (CW) ratio was half that of a German bomb of the same weight. Most British bombs had CW ratios of 50-60% and were classed as medium capacity (MC) bombs. Amatol, a relatively inefficient explosive, was used as the main filling and many failed to detonate, ie, unexploded bombs (UXB). As the war progressed, specialist bombs were developed for

5 RAF Official History

WINGS Spring 2017 26 Feature

Germany's defeat. When the air offensive did concentrate on these targets, the Luftwaffe was severely limited in fighter operations and the mobility of the Panzer Corps suffered. In addition, the capacity to produce and deliver armaments to the forward areas was severely curtailed. It was the destruction of the oil plants and the transport network that broke the resistance of the Reich, not the bombing of the towns. Hindsight may thus suggest that the air war over Europe might have been waged differently if presented as an academic military planning exercise in a vacuum. Given the ever-present factors of British, American and Russian divergent post-war aims, a plethora of planning and operational committees, competing inter-service and intra-service interests and the prevalent desire to over-insure in times of military plenty, it is difficult to envisage the deployment of air power in a fashion radically different from that which occurred.7 Post war Last Phase of the War The RAF and the USAF developed a number of weapons to suit their in- service aircraft. However, the RAAF only In the last phase of the war, the combined Anglo-American employed British WWII bombs while fighter aircraft employed bombing offensive had three main targets: oil, transport and both British and US bombs and rockets, both practice and general attack on major cities. However, RAF Air Staffs and HE/fragmentation. the Commander US Strategic Air Forces Europe (USAFE), In addition to stand-off weapons, the forerunner of cruise GEN Carl Spaatz, held different and conflicting views on the missiles, USA and Britain were in various stages of target priorities. As the war progressed, these views assumed development of nuclear weapons for their aircraft and delivery a real strategic importance. The options increased and the systems. While some aspects of planning of air launched effectiveness of strategic bombing increased. However, the nuclear weapons are similar to conventional planning, importance of choosing the right targets was essential. weapons-target matching and damage effects are dissimilar The introduction of the P-51C Mustang fighter, fitted with the and planning for these weapons won't be discussed further Rolls Royce Merlin engine, in early 1944 changed the air in this article. battle scene for good. The long range of the Mustang resulted in US domination of the German airspace in daylight hours. Canberra Aircraft Together with advance of the Allied armies across France, the Initially, the Air Staff Requirement for the Canberra aircraft collapse of the German air defences (both fighters and radar), specified a radar bombing system. However, production the USAAF and Bomber Command bomber loss rate dropped aircraft were equipped with visual bombing systems; the radar markedly. However, both Air Forces still had to contend with systems were reputedly reserved for the RAF V Bomber force. AA and the often appalling weather. In September 1944, it seemed that the strategic air forces were poised for a final knockout blow against Germany, by concentrating on the target priorities. However, the continuing failure to concentrate the immense capabilities on the competing priorities of oil, transport, cities and general industrial dislocation, could not be achieved. While the spread of bombing across these targets produced a certain collapse in Germany (in 1945), concentration of targeting on Germany's oil supplies in the last four months of 1944, may have had a different and earlier outcome. However, only one-third of Bomber Command's effort was directed against targets in Germany, largely because of the demands of land campaigns and other operations6 . Area bombing of cities and towns, while devastating, had little effect on armament, aircraft or tank production in 1943-44

Post war analysis suggests that targeting communications and Canberra being loaded with 1000lb bombs during Malayan the synthetic oil industry earlier in 1944 may have hastened Emergency, RAAF Butterworth 1959. Photo Brian McSkimming

6 Air Power Over Europe, by John Herington. Australian War Memorial 1963 7 ibid

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The earlier versions were designed for high and medium level bomb had a high probability of a direct hit. In the early 'Rolling bombing and later RAF (interdictor) versions (B-8 and B-12) Thunder' bombing campaign, five McDonnell Douglas F-4Es employed bombs, 4 x 20mm cannons in a gun pack in the hit the Thanh Hoa bridge multiple times with 2000 lb (907kg) bomb bay and underwing rocket pods—a version that would smart bombs on 27 April 1972 and put it out of action; follow-up have been well received in the RAAF. missions of 14 F-4Es with LGBs damaged the bridge further. Bombing accuracies (ie, the CEP) at these high and medium The bridge was attacked again by four A-7Es with Walleye levels quickly revealed the futility of achieving a required AGM-62 and 2 x Mk84 2000lb bombs, before the bridge was level of damage on any potential target with the small force damaged beyond repair, by the Mk84 bombs. 871 missions available. 82 Wing squadrons eventually started low level were flown against the Thanh Hoa railway bridge with the loss bombing at 1000-1500ft, with increased accuracies. Even so, of 11 aircraft, without significant effect until smart weapons with the GP bombs available, lower CEPs were still necessary were employed. However, although the coup de grâce was to achieve any damage effect on small, pinpoint targets. delivered by 'dumb bombs', no aircraft were lost following the LGB attacks. Other than 25lb practice bombs, the RAAF Canberra aircraft were limited to standard GP bombs of British design, generally Similarly, the Paul Doumer bridge was heavily damaged by medium capacity (MC) bombs of 500lb and 1000lb weight. F-105s in December 1967; however, traffic across the Red In addition to rockets, Sabre and Mirage aircraft usually River was soon restored. Smart weapons had their debut in employed 11lb practice and 500lb HE bombs. Vietnam. When an F-111 pilot at Tahkli AB was asked: "Do you have smart bombs?", the answer was reputed to have The Air War in Vietnam been: "No, but we've got smart airplanes." The F-111 was the only aircraft in the Vietnam war that did not employ/deliver During the air war in Vietnam, major areas and high value smart ordnance—or need them. targets suitable for attack by US air power were out of bounds because such attacks might 'involve' nationals of China, the Other Bomb Types Soviet Union or other 'non-participants'. The total economic loss to North Vietnam in 1967 due to air attack was wildly There were many other types of air delivered ordnance used guessed at $130 million, although probably an overestimate. in Vietnam. The USAF employed many improved types of It took 122,960 missions to accomplish this, so on these high explosive (HE) bombs, eg, 250lb, 500lb and 750lb, figures, each mission destroyed $1057 of unknown worth. (115kg, 227kg, 340kg), cluster bomb units (CBU), rockets But the direct cost of each mission for fuel, spare parts and of many types and napalm. A WWII bomb, the 10,000lb other consumables (excluding ordnance) averaged $8400, (4545kg) M-121 was used, with air burst fusing, to create not including the very high cost of personnel. instant helicopter landing zones in the dense jungle—these were dropped by C-130s or helicopters. Air attacks were carried out on 'lesser value' targets, the military value of which were doubtful in the overall military B-52 aircraft were modified to carry 108 x M-117 750lb (340kg) aims. Some targets were deemed to be major transport routes GP bombs: 84 internal and 24 on wing bomb racks. The and were attacked by flights of tactical aircraft. However, many aircraft were employed on Arc Light sorties, legendary for aircraft were lost due to SAMs and AAA and their destruction those who have witnessed the results of these engagements, at such great cost was questionable. Clearly the number of in both South and North Vietnam. Sorties were primarily missions needed to destroy small targets could be reduced carpet bombing and little weapons effort planning went into by using precision weapons and aircraft precision-delivery any of these operations, other than to saturate the drop zone systems. Other than attacks on enemy 'troops-in-contact', with bombs. results were hard to determine with any accuracy. Killed by air (KBA) became the usual bomb damage assessment (BDA) and a measure of success against the enemy. Laser Guidance

No long-range missile was used in Vietnam, though the US forces had many. Such sophisticated weapons were judged in Washington to be politically unacceptable. But the Vietnam war did see the first major use of the kind of missile for which the adjective 'smart' was originally coined: the LGB or laser- guided bomb, the widely used Paveway series of weapons. The LGBs were standard bombs (usually the Mk80 series) to which a laser guidance kit was installed. Following release, the laser receiver on the nose then sent commands to the control servos in the kit to 'home' the bomb automatically onto laser energy reflected from the target, illuminated by a friendly 'designating' laser on the ground, a laser in the attacking aircraft or in another friendly aircraft nearby. The accuracy of the LGB was impressive. Provided the target WW II bombs ready for loading on Canberra aircraft, remained continuously illuminated with a laser beam, the Phan Rang, 1967. Photo: Lance Halvorson

WINGS Spring 2017 28 Feature

RAAF Canberras of No 2 Squadron released bombs of The concept of operations for the F-111 in the early years was varying capacities, 500lb (227kg) and 1000lb (455kg) GP single aircraft, night TFR attack against a single high-value medium capacity of World War II stocks and 1000lb high target. After experience was gained, multiple co-ordinated speed armour piercing (HAHS) bombs of the Cold War era. No strikes against land and maritime targets were introduced, weapons effort planning was involved, other than "...expend with aircraft 30-60 seconds separation over the target. An all the stocks of bombs." It took about 10 months to deplete additional capability, the F-111C NBS had an offset bombing the 'war stocks', after which the RAAF employed the USAF mode, which allowed crews to identify, on radar, prominent M-117 750lb (340kg) MC bomb. feature/s, but release bombs on the target. With the acquisition The US Air Force installed MSQ-77 Combat Skyspot Systems of a portable radar transponder beacon in the late 1970s, (CSS), ground-directed bombing systems, to direct aircraft to Special Forces could operate the beacon at their location release bombs on targets that the crews could not identify which the attacking aircraft could acquire on the aircraft radar/ visually. The system employed existing SAC mobile ground NBS. The Special Forces provided the crews with the target radar units used for radar bomb scoring (RBS) and permitted co-ordinates, and the F-111 crew 'aimed' on the beacon, but great flexibility in that target selection would no longer bombed the target. depended on a nearby, prominent geographical feature; As with all strike aircraft like the F-111 that used a navigation aircraft had only to be within radar range of the MSQ-77 and weapons system, the altitude correction, or 'd' value, antenna. After initial radio contact, a controller would give the ('alticor' system in the Canberra) was essential to provide pilot headings to steer until bomb release countdown, when the true altitude to the system, critical in achieving bombing the navigator would release the bombs. The aircraft were accuracy. In the F-111, an altitude calibration, at a geographic tasked by HQ 7th Air Force, via Base Operations Centres; location of known elevation (AMSL), was part of the weapons target co-ordinates were determined by Mission Planning in checks before running into the target. PGMs removed this Saigon. pre-target requirement; however, in the current Digital Point After five months on CSS operations, 2SQN flew mostly day Precision Data Base (DPPDB or 'D-Point') system in use in visual sorties although they did fly some 'Night Owl' sorties, the USAF and RAAF, target elevation, or the Z measurement releasing visually under flare drops by C-119 flare ships. in the co-ordinate system, remains a critical factor. Bombing accuracies on the daylight sorties were determined Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) by vertical photography. Bomb damage assessment (BDA) The integration of Pave Tack, a forward looking infra-red was difficult to assess, although ground photos and FAC acquisition and laser designation system, and AGM 84 assessments gave some indication by the killed-by-air (KBA) Harpoon anti-shipping missile and the GBU-15, a 2000lb count, a highly unreliable analysis. Most of the targets were Mk84 glide bomb guided by data link, was undoubtedly the non-structural, ie, 'soft-skinned'. start of the modern PGM capabilities in the F-111 aircraft in AC-47, AC-119 and AC-130 'gunships' were examples of the RAAF. using aircraft not designed for the tasks they were assigned. However, the employment of high rate of fire mini-guns and later 20mm cannon, together with the long loiter times, was devastating to the enemy. Matching the weapons and the delivery platforms to the target was achieved with great success in these operations. Other successful uses of the right aircraft for putting weapons on the targets were the A-1E Skyraiders, the B-26B, the B-57, the venerable F-4 Phantoms and in Linebacker II, the F-111. The use of the B-52 bombers was highly successful; in June 1966, following their first year of action in SE Asia, they were employed on a daily basis in operations in both the north and southern areas. The B-52 in Vietnam and post-war is the subject of an article in a separate Wings issue. The 1980s When procured, the F-111C had a PGM capability, albeit with Vietnam era weapons, eg, AGM45 Shrike anti-radiation missile (ARM), AGM65 Maverick and AGM62 Walleye missiles. As the navigation and bombing system (NBS) was A F-111C with Pave Tack and LGBs. Near Amberley, 1987. integrated, navigation and bombing accuracy was dependent Photo: RAAF on an accurate inertial navigation platform and the bombing The advanced weapons systems were often implemented system. While very accurate for an all-weather system, the without the weapons for which they were designed—the F-111’s CEP was still inadequate to damage likely heavy dreaded 'fitted for but not with'. If ever there were ill- structured pin-point targets. Suitable for wide area targets, conceived decisions, they were it. How Defence Department eg, dispersed aircraft and ‘soft skinned’ targets in general, could contemplate acquiring weapons systems of advanced precision guide munitions were the obvious answer. technologies without the weapons to provide the capabilities

WINGS Spring 2017 29 PC-21_WINGS 210 X 297 A4 EN - 3MM BLEED

Feature for which they were designed, is beyond comprehension and logic. However, the lack of capabilities was gradually provided Aquila Engineering to Provide in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and common sense began to prevail. In-Country Engineering Precision weapon delivery has had a great impact in the air-to- ground domain. As the accuracy of bomb delivery increased, Support of Pilatus PC-21 the number of bombs required 'on target' has reduced as the probability of hitting the target increased. Achieving a direct hit, Aquila Engineering of Sale in Victoria and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd or a near miss, the target could often be destroyed. However, of Switzerland have signed a contract for Aquila to provide In- an important fact is that the measurement of accuracy, CEP, is Country Engineering and Logistics Support for the new Royal a statistic and is not representative of every bomb release— Australian Air Force (RAAF) PC-21 aircraft fleet, as part of the unguided bombs, ie, 'dumb bombs' do hit the target, and when AIR 5428 Pilot Training System, primed by Lockheed Martin they do, the target is often totally destroyed. Australia. This contract will mean the continuation of, and commitment to, in-country engineering and logistics support Technological development has emphasised both precise of the ADF pilot training program. aim with precision guidance and control of the weapon itself. Precision by accurate aiming is an important aspect of air Jenny Marshall, Aquila Engineering General Manager, said power, but history shows that the best combination is, not “The company is very excited to be entering into this new surprisingly, the trained operator on a smart platform with contract with Pilatus. Pilatus and Aquila first partnered in 2004 smart sensors and delivering a smart weapon. to provide in-country engineering and logistics support to the current RAAF pilot training platform. The initiative to set-up Aircraft, Guided Missiles and Air Strike: The use of aircraft the in-country technical capability has been very successful and guided missiles by air, land or sea forces against military in supporting the customer’s needs; particularly with Aquila objectives is clearly legal under international law, and has being based in Sale, Victoria and Perth, Western Australia been confirmed by the extensive practice of states in wars being the two primary RAAF pilot training bases. This same during the 20th Century. This is despite attempts by states, at system will now support the PC-21 platform, which has the various diplomatic conferences, to outlaw the use of aircraft; same customer, roles and operating bases and will therefore the most recent being during negotiation of the Additional benefit from a proven and responsive engineering capability Protocols, between 1974 and 1977. The use of aircraft (like to support the new performance based contract through an any weapon system) in armed conflict today, is subject to SME entity with its head-office located in rural Victoria.” specific regulation, much of it emanating from Additional Protocol.8 Rob Oliver, Pilatus’ Director Defence Australia, said, “We are looking forward to this renewed long-term partnership and are Lance Halvorson pleased to continue our relationship with Aquila Engineering; Part 2 of Weapons Effort Planning will consider PGMs and the platforms an in-country arrangement for the engineering support further for delivering the weapons on the target. increases our commitment to Australian industry capability Bibliography supporting the PC-21.” History of the Second World War, Purnell & Sons, Imperial War Museum. The Operations Manager for Aquila Engineering, Ian Alt, 1968 said “Pilatus and Aquila are pro-actively working with the Air Power Over Europe, Australian War Memorial 1963 customer to pre-position for the introduction of the new The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia 1961-1973, Office of Air Defence Regulations regarding engineering support of the Force History, USAF. 1984 Precision Weapons in Aerial Warfare, GPCAPT Vivek Kapur Institute PC/9-A platform. This acquired knowledge and benefit will for Defence Studies & Analyses (IDSA), 2012. flow directly onto the new PC-21 platform. Additionally, Aquila is in the final stages of obtaining CASR Sub-Part 21 J Approved Design Organisation Certification, being only the third company in Australia to achieve this status. This further shows the commitment by an Australian SME to provide the best service possible going forward on the PC-21 aircraft.” The contract for the PC-21 engineering 11 YEARS OF PROVEN SERVICE, and logistics support formally commenced 209 AIRCRAFT, 8 VISIONARY AIR FORCES! on 1 July 2017 and will operate concurrently For years, we were told a turboprop trainer would never be able to replace a jet trainer. with the PC-9/A support We proved them wrong – pilots now even transit directly from the PC-21 to fighter aircraft capability through to the 29 year old fleet’s with the benefit of huge cost savings. Our highly effective training system has been withdrawal from service successfully adopted by leading air forces around the world – a clear demonstration that in 2019. This ensures Pilatus continues the best possible outcomes for the Royal Australian Air Force fleet of PC-9/A the PC-21 is the training system concept for the 21st century. 8 AAP1003 RAAF 'Operations Law for RAAF Commanders' APDC aircraft transitioning to the new PC-21 aircraft. 2004 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd • Switzerland • Phone +41 41 619 61 11 • www.pilatus-aircraft.com WINGS Spring 2017 30 PC-21_WINGS 210 X 297 A4 EN - 3MM BLEED

11 YEARS OF PROVEN SERVICE, 209 AIRCRAFT, 8 VISIONARY AIR FORCES! For years, we were told a turboprop trainer would never be able to replace a jet trainer. We proved them wrong – pilots now even transit directly from the PC-21 to fighter aircraft with the benefit of huge cost savings. Our highly effective training system has been successfully adopted by leading air forces around the world – a clear demonstration that the PC-21 is the training system concept for the 21st century.

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VISIT WWW.THECOACHINGINSTITUTE.COM.AU/WINGS OR CALL US ON 1800 094 927 TO GET YOUR GIFT! Feature P-8A Poseidon Under the 2016 Defence White Paper, Project Air 7000 No 11 Squadron recently operated the P-8A Poseidon out plans to acquire eight P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance of RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Learmonth in March and response aircraft; the first was delivered to the RAAF 2017 to conduct operational test and evaluation activities in in November 2016, with all eight aircraft fully operational the lead up to Initial Operating Capability (IOC). Operating by 2021. Seven additional aircraft are planned in the 2020s from these two forward bases is an important part of ensuring bringing the total to 15 aircraft . the P-8A Poseidon can effectively sustain operations to the northern and north-western approaches of Australia. The P-8 aircraft have a range of over 7,500 kilometres and can be refuelled in the air by the RAAF KC-30A air-to-air refuelling aircraft, extending their range significantly. In addition to being able to undertake sophisticated surveillance operations at great distances, the P-8A can undertake offensive operations against submarines and ships, as well as supporting search and rescue operations. The last AP-3C was scheduled to be retired in 2018 after providing 30 years of almost continuous service.

11SQN FLGOFF Damien Greaves in the cockpit of a P-8A Poseidon, Darwin MAR17. Photo: ABIS Kayla Hayes

A RAAF Boeing P-8A Poseidon landing at RAAF Base Darwin, March 2017. Photo: ABIS Kayla Hayes

11SQN LAC Bradley Pascall refuels the P-8A Poseidon at RAAF Base Darwin, MAR17. Photo: ABIS Kayla Hayes Following the deployment of the Poseidon to RAAF Darwin and RAAF Learmonth bases, the Boeing-built Poseidon deployed to Malaysia in support of the operational test and The RAAF’s first P-8A Poseidon in formation with a current AP-3C evaluation of the P-8A as it is introduced to service. The Orion and past No 11 Squadron aircraft, the Lockheed Neptune deployment was a key milestone to declaring IOC for the and Catalina. Photo: CPL Craig Barrett aircraft and its system over the next 12 months. The RMAF To complement the surveillance capabilities of the Poseidon, Butterworth deployment is the first overseas deployment of the Government plans to acquire seven high altitude MQ-4C the P-8A since the first aircraft arrived in November 2016. Triton unmanned aircraft from the early 2020s as part of the The Poseidon’s predecessor, the AP 3C Orion, has operated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability. The from RMAF Butterworth for a number of decades as part of Triton is an unarmed, long-range, remotely piloted aircraft that the bilateral Malaysian and Australian Operation Gateway, will operate in Australia's maritime area of interest to provide which is part of Australia's contribution to the preservation significant intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance of regional security and stability in south-east Asia. The capabilities.

WINGS Spring 2017 34 Feature

declaring initial operational capability of the P-8A system,” AIRCDRE Heap said. A development possible for future implementation for Increment Two is a stand-off torpedo capability in the form of the US Navy’s High Altitude Anti Submarine Weapons Concept (HAAWC), for which Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are respectively developing their LongShot and Fish Hawk concepts. HAAWC is a wing kit that is designed to strap on to the Mk 54 torpedo and allow it to be launched from well outside a submarine or surface vessel’s defensive armament, Project Air 7000 provides upgrades to facilities, infrastructure and airfields at the 'home base' of RAAF Base Edinburgh (SA) and to forward bases at RAAF Bases Darwin (NT), Pearce, (WA) and Townsville (QLD). In addition, works are planned to refurbish the existing Torpedo Maintenance Facility and 11SQN QFI FLTLT Josh Brown carrying out a pre-flight construct new Explosive Ordnance storage at HMAS Stirling, inspection of the P-8A Poseidon, Darwin MAR17 WA. Photo: ABIS Kayla Hayes operation provides maritime surveillance patrols in the north Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

RAAF Base Edinburgh - 92WG Facilities As an example, works to be carried out at RAAF Base Pearce are: • Runway extension. The proposed runway extension will extend the runway to 2960 metres (9757ft) allowing the The first P-8A Poseidon, A47-001 in formation with a current AP- P-8A Poseidon to take off at maximum-all-up-weight at 3C Orion near RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA. NOV 16. ambient temperature up to 34°C. Both runway thresholds Photo: CPL Craig Barrett. will require strengthening as the current strength of the Commander of Surveillance and Response Group AIRCDRE pavements will not endure the loading of P-8A Poseidon Craig Heap said the successful first overseas deployment aircraft. of the Poseidon was a significant step towards realising the Construction of a new apron abutting full capability of the P-8A in an Australian context. "Maritime • Parking apron. the existing light duty apron is proposed in order to surveillance in this part of the world has been a core mission of accommodate three P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Number 92 Wing for decades, with the Poseidon’s capabilities well suited to continue this role,” he said. “The aircraft, the • Aircraft rinse facility. The existing aircraft rinse facility is aircrew who operate it and the maintenance and support proposed to be upgraded to allow P-8A Poseidon aircraft teams that keep the jet flying, have all performed extremely to provide regular rinsing of the aircraft to reduce the well during the deployment.” build up of airborne contaminants arising from low flying operations, especially salt laden contaminants. The Poseidon flew missions in the northern Indian Ocean and South China Sea and refined operations in these • Redevelopment of the existing Ordnance Loading environments. During each mission the aircraft conducted Apron (OLA). The existing maritime OLA does not have routine maritime surveillance on merchant and naval shipping the strength to accommodate the P-8A Poseidon. The along some of the world’s busiest shipping routes. OLA is proposed to be upgraded to a fully rigid pavement to support P-8A Poseidon aircraft operations. “With this overseas deployment complete, the next step from June through to July will be the completion of the operational Courtesy P-8A Poseidon Project Office, RAAF evaluation of the Poseidon’s Search and Rescue capability. This will be another important step as we move toward

WINGS Spring 2017 35 A proud history of aviation Our Approved Specialist Program in Aviation has developed over 38 years for students from Years 7 to 10. It is an excellent career pathway into the aviation industry.

Program highlights include: • purpose built aviation education centre • two single-engine Cessna aircraft at nearby Jandakot airport • Virgin Australia partnership where students may fly ‘jump seat’ in Virgin aircraft • proud history of students entering the aviation industry after graduation • strong alumni of past students providing advice on aviation career pathways • interstate and international tours including to North America and Europe. • two teachers with commercial pilot licence and flight instruction capacity

Aviation in your school? Eager to promote Aviation across the nation, our community supports implementation of the curriculum from Years 7 to 12 in schools. Please contact us for more information www.kentstreetshs. wa.edu.au/Specialist-Programs/Aviation/

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Kent St Senior High School.indd 1 18-Aug-17 10:16:31 AM Feature Soft Power Soft power—getting others to want the outcomes that you Some of the other want, to frame the issues, to set the agenda—co-opts people ‘active groups’ rather than coerces them. The power to attract has its roots in in Australia thousands of years of human experience. Skillful leaders have would probably always understood that attractiveness stems from credibility draw similar and legitimacy. Soft power has always been a key element of conclusions on leadership. Power has never flowed solely from the barrel of Australia. a gun; even the most brutal dictators have relied on attraction A proud history of aviation Importantly, the as well as fear.1 scores, but not Our Approved Specialist Program in Aviation has Portland, a strategic consultancy company in USA, recently the opinions, are developed over 38 years for students from Years 7 to published The Soft Power 30, a global ranking of Soft Power derived from the 10. It is an excellent career pathway into the aviation 2017. The 2017 Index is the third published by the company views of informed since 2015 and is a clear and accurate measurement of a people who have served in government, diplomatic service, industry. nation’s soft power resources—the aim of The Soft Power consultants in global strategy/foreign affairs and academics 30 index, the world’s most comprehensive comparative and are measured in a global context, some probably left assessment of global soft power. It combines objective data leaning. Significantly, the digital world involving the internet, Program highlights include: and international polling to build what Professor Nye has social networks and the use of smart phones are major described as "the clearest picture of global soft power to ‘players’ in this context, and the views of the younger users • purpose built aviation education centre date." The objective data covers government, digital, culture, who use these media will impact the scores in future soft • two single-engine Cessna aircraft at nearby enterprise, engagement and education from a number of power assessments. contributors in government, universities and study centres in Jandakot airport Lance Halvorson USA, UK and Europe. • Virgin Australia partnership where students may fly ‘jump seat’ in Virgin aircraft The top five countries are, in ranked order, France, UK, USA, Germany and Canada. The next ranked five are • proud history of students entering the aviation Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden and Netherlands. industry after graduation Predictably, China and Russia are down in the list, at 25 and • strong alumni of past students providing advice 26 respectively. Australia has slipped from sixth ranking in 2015 and 2016 to eighth. on aviation career pathways • interstate and international tours including to There are a number of reasons given for the rise of France and the slide of USA— mainly the diplomacy of President North America and Europe. Macron and the presidential style of President Donald Trump. • two teachers with commercial pilot licence and However, the US decline is more from sentiment than fact. flight instruction capacity The Report states, "Australia has fallen to eighth position despite an improved score. This movement reflects the need for Australia (and indeed New Zealand which has also fallen Aviation in your school? two places) to avoid complacency in its soft power assets. Australia saw its overall score in the international polling Eager to promote Aviation across the nation, component of the index slip ever so slightly. Despite its overall our community supports implementation of the increased score, the improved performances from Japan and Switzerland proved enough to displace Australia’s two year curriculum from Years 7 to 12 in schools. Please run in holding down the 6th spot".2 contact us for more information www.kentstreetshs. Australia scores in the first 10 countries on Culture, Education wa.edu.au/Specialist-Programs/Aviation/ and Enterprise, but not in the first 10 on Digital, Government and Engagement. China, South Korea, Japan and Singapore figure in all categories, except Government. No reasons Rotary Residential College are given for the scores on Australia, but recent comments Located on site at Kent Street, the Rotary Residential from the 'offenderati' concluded that it was all due to the current government policies and even to the US President. College offers high quality accommodation for country high school students. 1 Executive Summary 'The Soft Power 30', Portland 2017. A copy of the report is available at http://softpower30.portland-communications.com/wp- See www.rotaryresidentialcollege.com.au for more content/uploads/2017/07/The-Soft-Power-30-Report-2017-Web-1.pdf information. 2 'The Soft Power 30', Portland 2017. A copy of the report is available at http:// softpower30.portland-communications.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ The-Soft-Power-30-Report-2017-Web-1.pdf 89 Kent Street, East Victoria Park T: 9262 0500 WINGS Spring 2017 37 W: kentstreetshs.wa.edu.au E: [email protected]

Kent St Senior High School.indd 1 18-Aug-17 10:16:31 AM • RAAA - Bringing people and business together from across Australia and Internationally • RAAA - Providing the platform Change is for members to come together to hear from and speak with industry leaders and professionals, regional operators and technical experts in the Air • RAAA - Plenary and Workshop sessions programmed for delegates to actively participate on aviation issues • Extensive International Trade Exhibition • Special rates for members, students, technical attendees • Day passes available • Non members most welcome • Excellent Sponsorship and Exhibition opportunities available (limited space - be quick) • Excellent networking opportunities at the many social functions – Golf, Welcome Function, Oktoberfest and Gala Dinner

One of the Premier Events on Australia’s Aviation Calendar, featuring key industry leaders, decision makers, operators, government and regulatory authorities

For further information contact Rachel Washington 0412 996 711, MECCA Concepts Pty Ltd or email on [email protected] Visit www.raaa.com.au for updates and registration details Air Force Today

New Multi-purpose Jacket Membership of the The multi-purpose ‘soft shell’ – style jacket has arrived and will be issued to all Air Force personnel over the period June Air Force Association 2017 to December 2018. Members and ex-members of the Royal Australian Air Force, The Chief of Air Force recognised the need for an alternate aircrew of Australian and other Designated Services’ Navies wanted a jacket that was versatile, functional and could be and Armies and technical personnel specifically engaged in integrated with current service garments, while presenting Air the maintenance of the aircraft of the above Services Force as a professional force. Serving and former members of the Australian Air Force Cadets or the Australian Air League and its predecessors who are over the age of eighteen years and have given • RAAA - Bringing people and satisfactory service business together from across Persons who being not less than eighteen years of age, Australia and Internationally are siblings, sons or daughters of members, or of deceased • RAAA - Providing the platform former members of this Association Spouses of Association members, deceased Association members or of deceased for members to come together Change is members of the Royal Australian Air Force to hear from and speak with Persons who have an involvement or relationship with the industry leaders and uniformed or civilian areas of the Royal Australian Air Force, professionals, regional related industries or activities operators and technical Residents in a Retirement Estate or Village owned or experts conducted by the Association, Division or Branch. in the Air • RAAA - Plenary and Workshop Please contact your State Secretary for further details sessions programmed for NSW delegates to actively participate RAAF Association (NSW Division) on aviation issues Level 20 Defence Plaza, • Extensive International Trade 270 Pitt St SYDNEY, NSW 2000 Exhibition Tel: 02 9393 3485 [email protected] • www.raafansw.org.au • Special rates for members, VIC students, technical attendees RAAF Association (VIC Division) • Day passes available 24 Camberwell Rd, EAST HAWTHORN VIC 3123 Tel: 03 9813 4600 • Non members most welcome [email protected] • www.raafavic.org.au • Excellent Sponsorship and ACT RAAF Association (ACT Division) Exhibition opportunities PO Box 111, Campbell ACT 2612 available (limited space - Tel: 0428 622105 be quick) [email protected] • www.raafaact.org.au • Excellent networking TAS opportunities at the many social RAAF Association (TAS Division) functions – Golf, Welcome RAAF Memorial Centre, Warrant Officer of the Air Force Robert Swanwick is all smiles as 61 Davey St, HOBART TAS 7000 Function, Oktoberfest and he holds up the new Air Force multi-purpose ‘soft shell’ jacket, Tel: 03 6234 3862 as Warrant Officer of the Navy Gary Wright holds up Navy’s Gala Dinner [email protected] • www.raafatas.com equivalent. Photo: CPL Bill Solomou RAAF SA Due to the close working relationship with the Warrant Officer RAAF Association (SA Division) of the Navy, and after observing first-hand the benefit of the Torrens Parade Ground Navy cold weather jacket variant, the Warrant Officer of the Victoria Drive, ADELAIDE SA 5000 One of the Premier Events on Australia’s Aviation Air Force (WOFF-AF) recognised an opportunity was at hand. Tel: 08 8227 0980 After much discussion and co-ordination with the Clothing [email protected] • www.raafasa.org.au Calendar, featuring key industry leaders, decision Systems Program Office , Air Force conducted a wearer trial WA makers, operators, government and regulatory of the Navy cold weather jacket variant. The intent was to RAAF Association (WA Division) obtain Air Force member’s perspectives on design features; 2 Sleat Rd, APPLECROSS WA 6153 authorities and comfort and utility, while undertaking normal daily duties. Tel 08 9288 4710 The result is the multi-purpose jacket tailored to suit the Air [email protected] • www.raafawa.org.au Force working environment in moderate to cold climates. QLD For further information contact Rachel Washington 0412 996 711, RAAF Association (QLD Division) 12 Faraday St, Wulguru QLD 4811 MECCA Concepts Pty Ltd or email on [email protected] [email protected] • raafa-qld-div.wikidot.com Visit www.raaa.com.au for updates and registration details

WINGS Spring 2017 39 AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE BULLETIN Issue 285, April 2017 ISSN: 2205-0078 (Print) 2205-0086 (Online) INTEGRATING AIRBORNE ELECTRONIC ATTACK INTO THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE

Future conflicts will not be won simply by using the EM spectrum and cyberspace; they will be won within the EM spectrum and cyberspace. This will require changes to our operating concepts, military systems and, most importantly, a new way of thinking. Admiral Jonathan W Greenert, Chief of US Naval Operations, 2011-2015.

At 1332 Pacific Standard Time on 24 January 2017, attack and electronic warfare capability will, as Admiral two EA-18G Growlers of No 6 Squadron RAAF roared Greenert observed, be a transformational activity to the into the air from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. These way the ADF conducts training and operations. first flights marked the Growler Airborne Electronic From purely a platform perspective, Growler is ready Attack (AEA) transition from acquisition to in-service. to be unleashed. The aircraft is 90 per cent common The RAAF has become the only operator of Growler with the F/A-18F model, demanding expansion, but outside of the United States Navy, the result of a dedicated, not wholesale change to support services. Despite the collaborative effort from airframe similarities, the both sides of the Pacific. unique electronic attack The exceptional level of role provides several integration between the two challenges for Air Force. services was showcased The Growler is not a fighter during the Australian aircraft and although the International Air Show in aircrew require similar March 2017 with the US core skills, No 6 Squadron Commander Electronic will not operate in any way Attack Wing Pacific flying like an existing fighter on board one of the RAAF unit. Instead, concurrent, Growlers. small deployments in The initial cadre support of the joint force of Australian aircrew will be the norm. Growler commenced training with the is also not a traditional US Navy in 2013. They flew intelligence, surveillance in various operational and and reconnaissance (ISR) instructional roles embedded platform; it delivers the within US Navy squadrons Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations capability to influence the to maximise experience. electromagnetic spectrum The aircrew transitioned back from this secondment at the rather than just monitor it. Successfully integrating this same time as No 6 Squadron’s switch from being a Super capability into the ADF will be the challenge for declaring Hornet squadron to a Growler squadron in December Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in July 2018. 2016. The squadron, however, will continue to operate Some elements of the capability will require significant from Whidbey Island until June 2017. The US basing is change and introduction of the support base. Training required to complete acceptance of all twelve Growlers Growler aircrew for current and future threats is a case and to conduct initial operational test and evaluation. The in point. The electronic attack project includes resources test activities will conclude with a deployment to Naval to introduce force-level electronic warfare training at Air Weapons Station China Lake for advanced electronic Delamere Air Weapons Range This will be delivered in warfare and weapons testing. Once back in Australia, the the form of the Mobile Threat Training Emitter System; focus will be on integrating the Growler capability into emitters designed to provide electronic warfare training Air Force and the wider Defence. This level of electronic for other ADF aircraft as well as targets for Growler. The

WINGS Spring 2017 40 A No 6 Squadron EA-18G Growler on transit to the Australian International Air Show.

infrastructure, security procedures and information flow Growler will require an unprecedented level of integration at Delamere is shaping future RAAF range management. into operational planning and execution across the joint Delamere is providing the ‘live’ starting point for the Air force. Integration will require the use of innovative new Warfare Centre’s endeavour to deliver a robust live, virtual planning and execution tools to support revised operational and constructive (LVC) training environment. The training processes. Industry will have a significant role to play in complexity in high-threat scenarios and the integrated helping to define and develop these integration tools. The nature of mission sets steer Growler toward this future Growler project is at the vanguard of significant change of this level of simulation and training. Additionally, a to define new requirements, mission planning tools and distributed mission training system is required to ensure processes, particularly those of joint electromagnetic the electronic attack capability becomes a normal part of spectrum operations. This year the Growler project is exercises and operations. It is to ensure Australian forces providing establishment to the Air Operations Centre in achieve their objectives in the congested and increasingly order to create and develop the Air Force Electromagnetic contested electromagnetic spectrum. Spectrum Operations Cell; force-level electronic warfare Like the F-35, the EA-18G is the sharp end of allied is about to be realised as a new capability. intelligence and operational data and analysis. It fuses this Growler is a catalyst for change in force training and intelligence with data from on-board sensors and other electronic warfare command and control throughout the capabilities in order to provide enhanced understanding ADF. The transformation will extend well into the next of the battlespace, which in turn, enhances the capabilities decade as the airborne electronic attack capability matures of the joint force. The wider Australian intelligence and fighting in the electromagnetic spectrum becomes part community is key to the production and management of and parcel of normal operations. The challenge for Air this intelligence data. Significant success has already been Force will be to ensure that when Growler strikes, it will achieved through the commitment and support between do so as a controlled, coordinated and precise effect in the Australian agencies and the US Navy in particular, but a battlespace. lot of work remains for Defence and industry to develop the systems and architecture required to counter complex Key Points future threats. The Growler project is already contributing a number of personnel to intelligence agencies in order to • Growler is now part of the RAAF inventory with IOC drive production of the data that is required. scheduled for July 2018. Growler is the first ‘cab off the rank’ of several major • As the only operator of the EA-18G outside of the systems coming for the ADF that will operate in and affect US Navy, Australia is now able to deliver a force- the electromagnetic spectrum. EA-18G is therefore both level EW capability to influence the electromagnetic the champion and test case for groundbreaking reform spectrum. across the operational level of command. Growler is a • The Growler capability requires change throughout true joint force capability, with the ability to both support Defence in training and EW command and control and affect activities across the spectrum of operations. systems.

Air Power Development Centre F3-GF, PO Box 7932, Department of Defence CANBERRA BC ACT 2610 Ph: 02 6128 7041 Fax: 02 6128 7053 Email: [email protected] Web: www.airforce.gov.au/airpower Disclaimer: The views in this Pathfinder are not necessarily those of the RAAF

Reprinted courtesy of Air Power Development Centre WINGS Spring 2017 41 Air Force Today

“Ameri-Straya”: The Story of the undo each other’s effects, degrade blue systems (called electromagnetic interference – EMI), or completely miss the People Behind the U.S.-Australian target. Simply put, having the same equipment is not enough. Mission effectiveness requires that we think alike, train alike, Partnership In Electronic Warfare and speak the same EW language. By CDR Michael Lisa, USN | January 5, 2017 To achieve total alignment and close the “corporate knowledge Delivering the EA-18G to the Royal Australian Air Force gap,” the U.S. and RAAF established a personnel exchange (RAAF) will be a highly celebrated event, and rightfully so. This program (PEP), to embed RAAF pilots and aircrew in December, RAAF Six Squadron began their transition from operational U.S. Navy Expeditionary EA-18G squadrons. the F/A-18F to the EA-18G. In January of 2017, the RAAF In July of 2013, only three months after signing the FMS for will take custody of their EA-18Gs and begin flight operations twelve EA-18Gs, we ambitiously planned to start training at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. In February of 2017, the aircrew in October of 2013 at the Fleet Replacement Squadron RAAF EA-18Gs will fly-in to the Avalon Air Show, Melbourne (FRS), with RAAF aircrew serving two year stints in deployable Australia – a capstone event for the U.S.-Australian team units by early 2014. This aggressive timeline represented orchestrating the foreign military sale (FMS). Unfortunately, the hardest path to traverse in our fledgling EW partnership. media announcements and fanfare may not adequately Integrating RAAF aircrew into the FRS and then into capture or commemorate the storied relationships, close operational VAQ units meant moving mountains. Mountains partnership and hard work of the team that made this epic made from decades of cultural biases resisting the precise milestone possible. things we were trying to accomplish. This meant assembling a The Electronic Warfare (EW) landscape has been one of the team and working through painstaking details, dubbed “stubby most heavily-guarded domains of the U.S. military portfolio. pencil work” by one of the most vital and experienced active The marking “NOFORN” was the default classification for all duty EW experts leading our team. EW information, indicating that EW information was not be shared with any foreigner. Growing up in this environment, it seemed inconceivable we would one day execute the EW mission side-by-side with any partner nation. That changed in 2013 when the RAAF redefined their EW posture and requested twelve brand-new EA-18Gs, two electronic warfare ranges, a training contract for EW aircrew, intelligence officers, and maintenance professionals. This pivot exponentially expanded the RAAF’s ability to sustain an EW infrastructure and offensive capability for years to come. The RAAF and wider Australian Defense organizations designed the EW material acquisition plan impeccably. The plan accelerated the EA-18G’s “capability realization” through Cockpit view of an Australian EA-18G Growler off the Coast of an academically disciplined architecture of networked FMS California, August, 2016. Courtesy FLTLT Todd “Woody” Woodford cases. The RAAF EW portfolio encompassed all elements to The short story is that we did it. A cross-functional team support the EA-18G as a “platform,” or in other words “EW including professionals from the Naval service and other equipment.” wider DoD organizations changed the tactical EW realm from A straightforward move on paper, but EW tacticians will “NOFORN” to “YESFORN.” Men and women worked long understand that EW requires a vast depth of knowledge hours, gave up “flex-Fridays”, curtailed summer leave plans, beyond the equipment. To quip, if EW had a Facebook even skipped convalescent leave and poured their hearts and status it would read: “it’s complicated.” There is a “je ne souls into the mission. Senior Navy, U.S. DoD, and RAAF se sais quoi” ingredient to EW. As the RAAF realized, this officials took risks, trusted their teams and approved the ingredient lies within the people and the know-how. Traditional necessary things to ensure the partnership would be durable. FMS transactional activity could not capture the “je ne sais The team believed in the mission and got it done. quoi” ingredient, it required compressing seven decades of The fruits of the combined Navy and RAAF endeavor are EW “corporate knowledge” into 24 months. If anyone could nothing short of epic. During their two years of service, make that leap, it’s the RAAF. RAAF aircrew did more than simply learn EW tradecraft and Aligning EW methodologies is an incredible asset to both “tick the box,” or “tick” as the Aussies would say. Instead, Australia and the U.S. Aligning tactical know-how and EW RAAF officers excelled at nearly every squadron leadership methodology is critical to our shared interests, and it was position including, but not limited to: acting Executive Officer, imperative that Australia gain this knowledge. EW is unlike Operations Officer, Training Officer, Division Officer(s), and kinetic air-to-ground payloads that simply require target Standardization Officer. RAAF officers served in every critical coordinates, or an air-to-air missile that needs an appropriate billet in an EA-18G squadron and did so with the utmost target. It requires our sensors to call the signals the exact professionalism and dedication. same thing, employ the exact same waveforms/payloads, This experience and its success continues to be all about the and deliver at the exact same time with exact positioning. If people. It is about the dedication to establish the partnership, we do not put the “right” payloads on the “right” target, we the camaraderie forged on deployments, the life-long

WINGS Spring 2017 42 Air Force Today friendships and bonds that will never be forgotten. There The integration and testing of the new equipment is being should be little doubt that the capital effort put forth by RAAF worked through the Program Executive Office Fixed officers in U.S. Navy squadrons will persist and carry them to Wing (PEO-FW) at U.S. Special Operations Command commanding heights within their organizations, just as they (USSOCOM) and represents the highest level of GPS “raised the bar” of excellence within ours. assurance for airborne markets. With several installations planned for both forward fit and retrofit applications, DIGAR These conspicuous achievements send a clear message that is built on an open systems architecture that enables growth “this thing isn’t over, it’s just warming up.” The way forward capabilities across a variety of aircraft platforms that include includes Growlers in Australia, an indefinite U.S. Navy-RAAF rotary wing, fixed wing fighter, bomber, transport aircraft and officer exchange beginning in 2017, continued RAAF training small to large unmanned aerial systems (UAS). at FRS Squadron 129 (the cradle of U.S. Navy EW), and select RAAF aircrew attendance at the EA-18G graduate Rockwell Collins has delivered over 100,000 anti-jam systems course HAVOC. The combination of these institutional and across weapons, aircraft and soldier systems over the last close interpersonal relationships will forever align and bond 10 years. With a wealth of Air Force Research Laboratory our countries in the EW domain, a massive “tick.” (AFRL) simulations and live sky tests, DIGAR assures a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) product with a Without a doubt, the celebration and congratulations for the flexible, programmable implementation that provides a low incredible hard work of the many people in the EA-18G RAAF risk approach to mitigating the evolving jamming landscape. program is well deserved and symbolized by the Avalon fly-in. This piece was nothing more than a reflection on the incredible depth of the successes forged by people. As our unassuming GPS M-Code receiver U.S. Air Force RAAF brothers and sisters would say in celebrating years of Space and Missile Systems Center hard work, “cheers mate, well done.” Last month, Rockwell Collins delivered the last of a 770 USN Institute Blog Military-Code (M-Code) Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver order to the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Upgrades to USAF GPS Equipment Systems Center (USAF SMC). Committed to the Military As many know, GPS is an essential system in today's military, GPS User Equipment (MGUE) program, the M-Code receiver not only for integration in aircraft weapons systems and operates using a more powerful signal, resistant to cyber precision guided munitions, but in all other aircraft, networks threats. and everyday military systems. Its use in the US and RAAF “From advanced fifth-generation aircraft to ground and Digital Point Precision Data Base (D-Point) is essential for maritime applications, this technology meets the warfighters’ operations planning and execution. Both military and civil air needs for reliable and secure GPS navigation for increased use GPS for navigation. Almost all activities in modern usage situational awareness,” said Troy Brunk, vice president and today rely on GPS in some way, even if just for the time of day. general manager, Communication, Navigation & Electronic With its universal use, particularly in the military, accuracy is of Warfare Systems for Rockwell Collins. “This delivery great importance. Accuracy and precision in weapons systems demonstrates a major advancement in military technology.” are critical to success in achieving weapons on the right target M-Code not only enhances traditional GPS for military use, but and minimising collateral damage. Of equal importance is coexists with existing signals without interfering with current or the reliability and availability of the system. The upgrades future civilian or military user equipment. It is also designed to to GPS III are designed to provide the capabilities that the be autonomous so users can calculate their positions solely US Government considers essential for secure operations using the M-Code signal compared to existing signals where that use GPS. more than one signal code is required. M-Code receivers can Digital GPS Anti-jam Receiver be applied to new and retrofitted platforms. Rockwell Collins began work on this MGUE contract in 2012. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Aug. 24, 2017) – Rockwell Collins Created by USAF SMC, the program will enhance GPS recently delivered the latest generation of Digital GPS Anti- capabilities for the warfighter where current signals may be Jam Receiver (DIGAR) airborne anti-jam and anti-spoofing unavailable. As part of the contract, the company developed, technology to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command delivered and will aid in the transition to M-Code receivers, (AFSOC). The enhanced solution provides unsurpassed a process complemented by Rockwell Collins’ decades of airborne anti-jam capability with over 10,000 times improved experience and expertise in modernization solutions. jamming resistance over the previous model. Articles courtesy of Rockwell Collins “From advanced fifth-generation aircraft to ground and maritime applications, this receiver is the most reliable military- grade GPS solution available due to its unmatched anti-jam protection levels,” said Troy Brunk, vice president and general manager, Communication, Navigation & Electronic Warfare Systems for Rockwell Collins. “This delivery demonstrates a An IR image of USN major advancement in military technology and ensures that Blue Angel F/A-18s in a warfighters will have critical positioning, navigation and timing low pass. information when it’s needed most.” Photo: FLIR

WINGS Spring 2017 43 E-350 Expedition Pacific Aerospace in New Zealand are the new manufacturers of the E-350 Expedition. This aircraft is a real complement to the P-750 XSTOL operating out in the bush off semi-prepared air strips and carrying a good payload over a long distance. The E-350 evolved from the Bush Hawk manufactured by an old aircraft company called Found Aircraft in Canada and was built specially for rugged bush flying but lent itself to be pushed into other markets. The E-350 Expedition is a breakthrough for general aviation in regards to its abilities and versatility. The E-350 offers general aviation pilots a rugged aircraft with superior STOL performance, useful load and versatility. The construction of the Expedition E350 is meant to be rugged, versatile and practical. The epicenter of this design The E350 is built to haul big loads, and its wing, gear and is its steel frame. The E350 is one of the few aircraft on the fuselage have been tested to the highest levels of FAA market that utilizes a steel frame to protect its occupants. certification. The E350’s rugged landing gear means that it is not limited to The Expedition’s rear cabin is very versatile. Its three rear taking off and landing on asphalt runways. Built specifically seats can be easily removed by turning two pins behind each for backcountry operations, the E350 thrives on rough grass seat. The rear cabin is accessed through two large doors. and gravel airstrips. That means you can load large items into the rear cabin very This makes the Expedition very appealing for use out of easily. ranches, farms and other underdeveloped areas. Adding to The E350 is by far the most versatile aircraft on the market its versatility is its ability to be equipped with floats. Every today. A STOL aircraft, a family cruiser, a heavy hauler, a Expedition comes standard with float attachment brackets on utility aircraft, an amphibious aircraft, a backcountry aircraft its steel frame, Y-brace and lifting hard points. all wrapped into one.

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CONFERENCE RATHMINES 26 - 28 OCTOBER Register at: www.seaplanes.org.au FOR DETAILS CONTACT: Donna Handley 0409 172 776 Malcolm Burns 0448 744 763 Email: [email protected] ‘SPLASHDOWN 2017’ PILOTS CONFERENCE Are you interested in amphibious flying boats or float planes? Catalina will lumber up along the coast from the HARS base If so, then don’t miss the biennial SPAA ‘SPLASHDOWN’ at Albion Park to remind the Rathmines crowd of WW2 flying Seaplane Conference at Rathmines NSW from 26 to 28 boat activity at this vital base. October 2017. The festival supports the establishment of an interactive Delegates from around Australia and overseas will on averge museum and hangar complex at Rathmines to house a at the former RAAF flying boat base on Lake Macquarie to restored Catalina aircraft. This will be a fitting tribute to the discuss safety equipment, waterways access requirements thousands of RAAF and WRAAF personnel who served and specialised Seaplane operating techniques. It is also a at the base, and commemorate the bravery of some 332 great chance to meet other Seaplane Pilots and enthusiasts. Australian Airmen lost in WW2 flying boat operations. A variety of different amphibious aircraft types will splash-in at the lake and tie down at this historic location for the duration of the conference. To attend the conference register at: www.seaplanes.org.au RATHMINES CATALINA FESTIVAL The Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association will old its annual ‘Rathmines Catalina Festival’ on Sunday 29 October. The Air Force Roulettes will perform a formation aerobatic display at the festival, along with many other interesting aircraft and other attractions. One highlight will be a flying display at Rathmines on Sunday afternoon by the HARS Black Cat PBY-6A known as ‘Felix’. This beautifully restored

WINGS Spring 2017 46 Feature 75th Anniversary of RAAF Squadrons in Bomber Command The veterans of Bomber Command commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of some of the RAAF Squadrons established under Article XV in RAF Bomber Command at a weekend in Canberra on 3-4 June 2017. The weekend Commemorations started with a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on Friday 3 June when FLTLT Williams was honoured. A Meet and Greet followed in the Anzac Hall alongside Lancaster G- George, the 460SQN aircraft, the same evening. Former Lancaster pilot Murray Maxton 'checked out' the cockpit of the Lancaster, again, after 70 years absence. The Director of the AWM, Dr Brendan Nelson, accompanied Murray on his aircraft re- familiarisation. The Commemoration Ceremony was held Sunday morning at the Bomber Command Memorial at the Australian War Memorial. More than 500 veterans and guests gathered for the ceremony, when Dr Nelson gave the excellent key- note address. 34 Bomber Command veterans attended the Commemoration Service. To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the commencement of RAAF Squadrons operations with Bomber Command, Dr Nelson had earlier offered a Commemoration Day luncheon in the Anzac Hall, in lieu of the annual lunch usually held. Dr Nelson’s address at the lunch received a standing ovation from the veterans and the luncheon guests, following his usual excellent address.

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Lt.Comr Todd Oakley (left) with Wg.Capt Walter Savell and Comr. Brian Grinter at the Aviation Careers Expo – Brisbane Airport Todd’s Air Force experience includes postings to No’s 6 and 23 Squadrons as well as Headquarters Air Command, and states that the experience that he gained in the Air Force is highly valued within the Air League. “The passion for aviation and the professionalism and dedication that are the hallmarks of Air Force training and service are highly prized commodities in an aviation youth development organisation like the Air League” Todd commented. “It’s great to see that these traits and skills developed in the RAAF are now being used to benefit our local communities”. Former Air Force Avionics Technician David Shaw recently returned to the League and is working towards opening an Air League squadron in Townsville. “I did several years as a cadet, and volunteered as an Officer at the local Squadron when I was posted to RAAF Richmond, but had to leave when I was posted away” David said. “I’ve really missed it, and now that I am out of the RAAF and have settled in Townsville I am really keen to get involved again”. David considered volunteering with other groups, but chose to return to the League instead. “it’s a known quantity to me,” David explained, “and besides I think the League’s approach is better. In my opinion, the Air League certainly has a broad approach to aviation and youth development in its education program and that means a lot Air League Expands in Queensland more opportunities.” David and Todd have recently been joined by two other former The last 18 months has seen the Australian Air League expand Air Force members on the Gold Coast who are now in training in Queensland with the recent addition of several former Royal to re-open the Air Leagues Southport Squadron later this Australian Air Force members to the Air League’s Queensland year. With the addition of a new Townsville Squadron and a Group as Officers. Sunshine Coast Squadron being opened by Todd, these four former “RAAFies” will have supported the League’s expansion Former RAAF Operations Officer Todd Oakley re-joined the Air within three local Queensland communities in one year. League in 2015 after a 12 year break from the organisation. Two months ago, Todd was appointed the Air League’s senior If you would like to learn more about the Australian Air officer for Queensland. League in Queensland or are interested in volunteering, please contact Todd Oakley [email protected] or “It’s a real honour to be chosen to lead the Air League in call 1800 502 175. Queensland” Todd said, “I returned to the League because I was looking to volunteer with an organisation where my For further information please contact experience and contribution was valued, and my previous Australian Air League service taught me that the Air League was that organisation.” Phone: 1800 502 175 Email: [email protected]

WINGS Spring 2017 49 History No 5 Airfield Construction Squadron 13 Squadron in Timor

Early in 1942, the Air Board realised After being withdrawn from Laha, Ambon in the Netherlands the urgent need for ‘an organisation East Indies in February 1942 to Hughes airstrip in the Northern capable of producing airfields in Territory, No 13 Squadron continued to mount operations forward areas at short notice while against the Japanese. On 10 August 1942, nine Lockheed under threat of air attack’. The various Hudson aircraft attacked Japanese vessels at Beco, Timor. Mobile Works Squadrons (MWS) and The attack was launched in response to intelligence provided Airfield Construction Squadrons (ACS) by Australian commandos based on Timor as part of Sparrow performed sterling work throughout Force. The squadron claimed two Japanese vessels sunk Australia and the Pacific during WW II. and one damaged. When the armistice with Japan was announced on 15 August 1945, there were 146 officers and 4,836 airmen on active service in ten Airfield Construction Squadrons, located at Tarakan, Balikpapan, Labuan, Morotai, Bougainville, New Britain and Aitape. By the end of 1945 eight of the ten Airfield Construction Squadrons had disbanded with No 5 ACS serving in Japan repairing airfield facilities at Bofu, Iwakuni and Miho, before disbanding at Iwakuni on 30 June 1949.

13 SQN plaque at AWM. Photo: RAAF Two Hudsons also attacked an enemy destroyer and a small motor vessel; a stick of bombs straddled the bow of the destroyer but any damage was insufficient to stop the vessel. The destroyer responded with anti-aircraft fire. All aircraft returned safely to Darwin. No 13 Squadron was later awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) for its operations over Timor between 13 April - 25 August 1942 and was one of only two Learmonth Airfield under construction by 5 ACS, 1971. RAAF squadrons to have been awarded this honour; the other Photo: RAAF unit was No 2 Squadron, which also was awarded a PUC for its outstanding performance of duty over the same period. 5 ACS was re-formed at Bankstown, NSW on 5 August 1951. More on the fighting in Timor in 1942 is here: https://www. Over the next 23 years, the squadron worked on projects awm.gov.au/articles/event/timor including Williamtown, Regents Park, Bankstown, Kingswood, the Monte Bello Islands, Woomera Test Range, Darwin, Amberley, East Sale, Tindal, Vung Tau and Phan Rang (Vietnam), Ubon Air Force Base (Thailand) before embarking on the squadron’s last major project, the construction of Learmonth. Initial works there began in March 1970 and Learmonth was officially opened on 15 December 1972. In August 1973 it was announced that the squadron would be disbanded; this occurred at Learmonth on 15 December 1974.

WINGS Spring 2017 50 History

No 24 (Citizen Air Force) Squadron coast of Australia, initially to Merauke on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea, and later to the north coast of New Guinea Following the re-formation of No 24 Squadron as a Citizen Air and Dutch New Guinea, as the bases at Wewak, Noemfoor Force (CAF) unit on 30 April 1951, the first four CAC P-51D and Hollandia were taken from the Japanese. Mustang aircraft arrived at RAAF Mallala from Tocumwal, NSW, on 16 July 1951. In addition, two CAC Wirraways arrived from Point Cook on 27 July and two De Havilland Tiger Moths from RAAF Richmond on 1 August, to be used for ab initio training. Two additional Mustangs arrived on 16 October 1951.

37SQN Lodestar, Merauke, Dec 44 Photo: AWM At the beginning of 1945, Douglas Dakota C-47B aircraft replaced the Lodestars and an additional courier run was established in May 1945 from Darwin to Morotai. By No 24 Squadron Mustang aircraft at Malalla. Photo: RAAF June 1946 the establishment of aircraft was down to 12 and an advance party was sent to Schofields, NSW, before the CAC Winjeels eventually replaced the Tiger Moths on 28 squadron’s transfer there on 27 July 1946, to join No 86 Wing. January 1959. Reorganisation of the Citizen Air Force in 1960 changed the role of all CAF Squadrons from flying On 30 September, the Squadron took over the courier service training to ground training. By November 1959, the Mustangs to Japan from No 36 Squadron, providing three services per had been retired leaving only four Winjeels at the squadron. week. This arrangement continued until February 1948 when The four Winjeels departed No 24 Squadron on 8 February the unit took over a courier service from Richmond to Lae 1960; on 1 March 1960, No 24 Squadron became No. 24 (City and later to Rabaul. In addition, special courier duties were of Adelaide) (Auxiliary) Squadron, and moved from RAAF undertaken until the unit was disbanded on 24 February 1948. Mallala to a temporary home at RAAF North Adelaide, before The squadron was re-formed again in February 1966 at RAAF moving to RAAF Base Edinburgh in May 1960. During the Base Richmond and equipped with the C-130E Hercules. It Squadron’s time at Mallala, CAF personnel conducted 191 converted to the C-130J model in 1999, and between 2006 weekend camps. and 2012 also operated C-130Hs formerly of No 36 Squadron. No 37 Squadron came under the control of a re-formed No 86 No 37 Squadron Formed at Laverton Wing from 1987 until 2010, when it transferred to No 84 Wing.

No 37 Squadron was raised at Laverton, Victoria, on 15 July 1943 with an establishment of 28 officers and 141 airmen. On 29 July 1943, a Northrop aircraft was allotted to the squadron and the first of the unit’s Lodestar aircraft arrived on 23 August 1943, still with United States insignia painted on the wings and fuselage. The RAAF roundel was soon painted on the aircraft. With the arrival of additional aircraft, building up to a total of 10 aircraft, the unit became fully operational on 11 October 1943. At that time routine courier flights were: three flights to Darwin, via Perth; three flights via Alice Springs; and each week a flight to Maryborough, QLD, via units in NSW. In January 1944, squadron aircraft flew a service twice each weekday to Launceston carrying personnel for the three services, as the normal passenger vessel plying Bass Strait had been requisitioned for naval service. C-130J Hercules, A97-448, arrives at Douglas Aerospace hangar In mid-1944 the courier run to Maryborough was phased out at Wagga Airport , the last to be repainted in the new camouflage and was replaced by a courier flight which went up the east two-tone dark grey scheme, as displayed by the C-130J in the background. Photo: SGT Michael Formosa

WINGS Spring 2017 51 History

No 31 Squadron Formed The Mirage III began to replace the Sabre from 1964 and—as the Sabres were phased out—several were put up for sale. On 14 August 1942, No 31 Squadron was formed at the Forest Both Malaysia and Indonesia were gifted Sabres from RAAF Hill base near Wagga Wagga, NSW. After equipping with the inventories. A total of 122 Sabres were built; 22 CA-27 Sabre Bristol Beaufighter and being brought up to strength, the unit Mk 30s, 21 Mk 31s and 69 Mk 32s. The CAC-built Mk 26 moved to Batchelor in the Northern Territory in October and Avon engine was retrofitted to all Sabre Mk. 30/31/32 models, then to its new home at Coomalie Creek, south of Darwin, along with the new wing, which effectively brought the entire in November. force to Mk 32 standard. The last Sabre officially retired from the RAAF on 31 July 1971.

Sabre flown at the Temora Aviation Museum Photo: RAAF

31SQN members, Coomalie Creek, Oct 44. Photo: AWM Office of Air Force History The squadron’s first combat operation took place on 17 November 1942; over the next Empire Flying Boats two years, No 31 Squadron flew ground attack sorties against the Japanese in Timor and the Netherlands East Indies, as well as anti-shipping patrols and convoy protection missions. In November 1944, the squadron deployed to Noemfoor before moving again to Morotai in late December to attack Japanese positions in the Celebes and Halmahera Islands. Centaurus at Rose Bay, NSW 1938 Setting up on Tarakan in May 1945, No 31 Squadron carried out strikes in support of the Australian landings in Borneo During 1939-40, the RAAF impressed into service four Short and Brunei in June and the operations that followed. After the Empire S23 flying boats from QANTAS and Imperial Japanese surrendered on 15 August, the squadron dropped Airways; A18-10 (ex G-ADUT, “Centaurus”), A18-11 (ex leaflets over the Halmaheras to inform the garrison of those G-AEUA, “Calypso”), A18-12, (ex VH-ABC, “Coogee”) islands that the war was over. No 31 Squadron returned to and A18-13 (ex VH-ABB, “Coolangatta”). Australia in December 1945 and disbanded at RAAF Base “Coogee” was written off in a landing accident at Townsville Williamtown on 6 July 1946. on 27 February 1942 and a few days later, on 3 March, “Centaurus” was destroyed during a Japanese air raid CAC CA-27 Sabre in RAAF service on Broome. Consequently, a fifth flying-boat, A18-14 (ex G-AFPZ, “Clifton”) was impressed into service on 9 March Based on the North American F-86F Sabre, the prototype of 1942; this aircraft was an S33, a hybrid with a strengthened the extensively modified Sabre first flew on 3 August 1953 hull for a payload of 53,000lb (24,040kg). During RAAF and the first production Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation service, the flying-boats operated with Nos 11, 20, 33 and (CAC) CA-27 Sabre on 13 July 1954. The last CAC Sabre, 42 Squadrons in the transport and medevac roles. A94-371, completed acceptance trials on 19 December 1961. On 8 August 1942, No 33 Squadron boat “Calypso” was lost All CAC Sabres were modified throughout their RAAF during an attempt to rescue survivors from the torpedoed service with ARDU (from 1954), No 75 Squadron (the first steamship Mamuta, near Daru, New Guinea. During a landing Sabre squadron, from April 1955); No 3 Squadron (from in rough seas, the hull collapsed and the aircraft sank. One March 1956), No 77 Squadron (from November 1956) and airman was lost and one Mamuta survivor joined the crew No 76 Squadron (from January 1960). Sabres saw service aboard their two rafts. The crew spent three days adrift before in SE Asia with Nos 3 and 77 Squadron (Malaya) and No 79 reaching the Papua New Guinea coast. It was a further six Squadron at Ubon, Thailand. days before they made civilisation.

WINGS Spring 2017 52 History Canberra Air Disaster Operation Kiribati Assist While approaching to land at Canberra on 13 August 1940, No - Ordnance Disposal on Kiribati 2 Squadron Lockheed Hudson bomber A16-97 carrying VIPs stalled and crashed into low hills beside the airfield. Killed in the disaster were the Minister for Air (James Fairbairn), Minister for the Army (Geoffrey Street), Vice-President of the Executive Council (Sir Henry Gullett), Chief of the General Staff (General Sir Brudenell White), two officials, andthe four-man crew.

On 7 August 2008, 22 members of Joint Task Force 637 arrived on Kiribati to begin the planned clearance and disposal of American and Japanese unexploded ordnance (UXO) bombs and other ordnance left littering this Central Pacific The crash site of the 2SQN Hudson, Canberra. Photo: RAAF country’s 33 islands following the World War II battle of Tarawa Although rumours immediately began circulating that Fairbairn in November 1943. (himself a civil pilot) may have been at the controls of the The mission was undertaken in response to a request to Hudson while on its fatal approach, a Judicial Court of Inquiry Australia for assistance, and included a command group, into the accident found no evidence to support such claims. Clearance Diving personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Instead, the inquiry issued a warning to RAAF pilots regarding and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams from both Army the stalling characteristics of the Hudson when the aircraft’s and RAAF. After five days, the Task Force conducted its first speed was allowed to reduce too far. ‘demolition’ of unexploded ordnance in deep water, off the The Canberra Air Disaster Memorial is situated at the crash main island of Tarawa. The ordnance included Japanese and site, near the Canberra Airport. American naval and artillery shells, one or two Japanese sea mines, rockets, mortars, bombs and hand grenades—much A commemorative plaque at the memorial site lists the victims of was left exposed on Kiribati’s coral reefs. of the disaster. The battle for Tarawa lasted from November 20-23, 1943. It pitted a well prepared elite Japanese force of approximately 4500 men supported by some coastal battery guns, artillery pieces and 14 tanks against an overwhelming American force of 17 aircraft carriers, 12 battleships, 12 cruisers, 66 destroyers and 35,000 marines and soldiers. The cost to both sides was enormous, with the Americans losing almost 1000 marines and soldiers and 687 naval personnel with another 2300 wounded. Of the Japanese/Korean force, only one Japanese officer and 16 enlisted men and 129 Koreans survived.

WINGS Spring 2017 53

History “Royal” Prefix - Royal Australian Air Force Sabre Aircraft A94-983

When Australia’s air service was officially established in March 1921, its title was simply the ‘Australian Air Force’. A proposal had already been made, however, in the Air Council the previous month, to seek the granting of the ‘Royal’ prefix for the new Service. The request was submitted, and on 11 May the Governor-General, Lord Forster, was advised in a dispatch from London that the King had given his approval. This advice was relayed to the Defence Department on 20 June. Although the news appeared in the press three days later, it was not until 13 August 1921 that the change was formally ordered by the Governor-General, making this the start date for use of the RAAF name. The order was published in the Commonwealth Gazette on 18 August (No. 65, 1921, p. 1207). Sabre A94-983 after restoration at Temora Air Museum. Photo: RAAF

CAC Mk 32 CA-27/Sabre A94-983 was operated by No 3 Squadron from October 1958, No 76 Squadron from February 1961– July 1963, 2OCU from November 1966 and 5 OTU before completing RAAF service with 2OCU in August 1971. Following service with the RAAF in November 1971, A94-983 was transferred to No 11 Squadron RMAF, flying as FM1983 until 1976. Back in service with the RAAF, Butterworth- based No 75 Squadron conducted an 'E' servicing over a 12 month period, the Sabre flew again in July 1978. Shipped back to Australia for restoration by Richmond- based No 2 Aircraft Depot, A94-983 was first displayed in public in March 1981. In November 1984 the aircraft carried out a forced landing and over-run at Bendigo. After suffering minor damage after a forced landing and runway over-run at Bendigo in November 1984, the Sabre continued to be displayed by the RAAF Museum, under the auspices of the Caribou and Historic Aircraft Section (CHAS) at Richmond, until it relocated to Point Cook in 1997. In January 2006, A94-983 was transported by road to the Temora Aviation Museum where a comprehensive return to service program commenced. The restoration of the Sabre commenced in May 2006 and culminated with the successful post maintenance check flight on 16 July 2009. The aircraft remains at Temora Air Museum, although it does not fly any longer. Office of Air Force History

The Commonwealth Gazette of 18 August 1921.

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Art Exhibition - Vietnam combat soldiers in particular. Let us never, ever forget the contribution, NATIONAL SERVICEMAN made to every corps Peter Bradford (ex-RAAF Pilot) gave the following presentation at in the ARMY. No 9 Squadron was the first and only Air Force an Art Exhibition at the Hornsby RSL on 19 August 1969. Peter has Squadron, in our military history, to work at the front line with approved its publication in Wings. Army. The Squadron was there to move them, feed them “National President Returned And Services League of and extract the wounded and the dead. A large part of our Australia, Mr Rod WHITE, Federal Member for BRADFIELD Squadron’s operations was inserting and extracting SAS long Mr Paul Fletcher , Federal Member for BEROWRA , Mr Julian range Patrols. Those operations have left indelible memories. Leeser, State Member for HORNSBY, Mr Matt Kean, Mayor Our soldiers’ bravery, human decency, camaraderie and of Hornsby Mr Steve Russell, distinguished Guests, Ladies mateship, is second to none. and Gentlemen. I consider it a great privilege to be here There are 2 incidents which I would like to relate to you. They tonight to open this wonderful Art Exhibition. take on special significance tonight. The first occurred on the Just a little about me so you know who I am and maybe why 21st July 1969, the day that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin I have been asked to open this exhibition. I am a boy from were about to make their way down to the moon from Apollo the bush in Queensland who with perseverance and some 11 in the Eagle. On that same day, 3 Platoon 6 RAR were luck managed to join the RAAF in 1966 and graduate as a patrolling near the Long Hai Mountains, in mine-infested pilot. A short tour flying Neptune anti- submarine aircraft, a terrain. An explosion came from nowhere. LT Peter Hinds posting to helicopters to join the increasing RAAF commitment had stood on a mine. The result was catastrophic!! I will not to the war in Vietnam, was an extremely busy start to my attempt to describe the situation, except to say, among the flying career. Returning to Australia I was lucky to do a Flying wounded were a two man engineering splinter team. These Instructors’ course. sappers were attached to the infantry platoons to deal with the land mines. Over the next 15 years or so, I spent time as an Instructor on the Macchi Jet trainer, the Iroquois Helicopter, the C130-E Some 15 years later, this tragic event was to be the catalyst Hercules Transport and finally, a VIP Captain and instructor at for the iconic song about the Vietnam War, “I WAS ONLY No 34 Squadron flying the BAC 1-11. Our Federal and State NINETEEN.” The words were written by John Schumann Members will be pleased to know my time was spent at NO from the band “RED GUM.” It so happened, John’s brother- 34 Squadron when Malcolm Fraser was PM and Sir Zelman in-law was wounded in this mine explosion. Do these words Cowan was the Governor General and Sir James Killen was SOUND FAMILIAR, “Frankie kicked a mine the day that Minister for Defence. mankind kicked the MOON”. The Battalion CO, LTCOL David Butler and the Battalion Doctor Trevor Anderson had After resigning from the Air Force in 1985, I joined QANTAS. been winched in to assist with the wounded. Unfortunately In 1996, I joined a mate to fly a McDonald Douglas DC-8 for , the Doc stepped on another mine and was blinded. David Mr Kerry Packer. I loved Las Vegas!! Butler was wounded as well. No 9 Squadron, once again, But: this night is about Vietnam Veterans and the special extracted the wounded and the dead. place the Battle of Long Tan has in our history. Much has been About 5 months later, on December the 8th 1969, the second written of that battle but not a lot about the part No 9 Squadron incident occurred. One of the previously wounded Splinter played in the outcome of that battle. Some years ago, I was Team Sappers from the July event, was all patched up and invited by the Kingscliff RSL to address the gathering for the back in the bush. He was still attached to the 6th Battalion, Long Tan Day celebration. which was prosecuting a major operation in the May Tau Just before the commemoration started, the officiating Padre Mountains. After this successful operation the Armoured said he had a lady who would like to say hello. This lady was column and troops proceeded to move back to our base at the daughter of the pilot who flew the first mission to drop Nui Dat by air and land. A helicopter crew of which I was ammunition to the beleaguered D Company at Long Tan. That part, was tasked to take an engineering team back to the pilot was Flt Lt Frank Riley DFC, a Korean War Veteran. He returning armoured column. As we descended to land close actually defied his Commander who said that with the torrential by the lead APC, a look out the side window revealed that this rain, the mission was an unacceptable risk. Frank’s words, APC had suffered catastrophic damage: a part of the nose not mine, “pigs’ arse, load up!!” A member of D Coy who was had been blown off. at the Kingscliff gathering, told me without that ammo drop, We now flared to land, and just a couple of seconds from the Coy would most probably have been wiped out. touchdown, there was an almighty explosion and a shock Ladies and Gentleman, the Sunday Telegraph on the 7th of wave hit the helicopter. May I say, a crash landing ensued. August, had a two page spread with interviews of diggers We initially thought we were hit by a missile, but NO, we had from D Company. One digger, 71 year old Peter Doyle said, tripped another land mine with our rotor wash. Our chopper and I quote, “Only the marvellous flying of the 9 Squadron was mortally wounded. The driver and another soldier in the helicopter pilots, who came in at treetop level in a blinding lead APC , had been killed. Another soldier was catapulted off thunder storm and were able to kick ammunition out the doors that same APC many metres to its front and attempts were and let it fall down through the trees, saved us.” being made to get him back to safety. My first look at him was one of shock. I doubt his mother would have recognised May I say, based on my experience as an Air Force chopper him. Most of his clothes had been blown off and he appeared pilot in 1969, I have the greatest admiration for Army, Army to have sun baked for a week. Yes, he was blast burned. Not pretty.

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To make him a bit more comfortable, we got a stretcher for Vietnam Veterans Day 2017 him from the chopper. The poor bugger was in some pain with a crook back. Now, he was whinging, he was thirsty, so Vietnam Veterans Day Remembrance Day Service was the crewman retrieved one of our survival packs from the held at the Australian Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, chopper and I said to him, “Here Mate, have some “ SYDNEY Canberra, on 18 August 2017. WATER!” Squadron aircrew had always referred to these cans as “Sydney” water. The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) gave the After many helicopter sorties to extract the dead and wounded, address on behalf of the Australian people and Major-General, and the arrival of a Chinook helicopter to airlift our broken the Honourable Michael Jeffrey AC CVO MC (Retd), gave the chopper back to Vung Tau, we all went our separate ways. address on behalf of Vietnam Veterans. The WAR just goes on day after day. You never lingered too long on daily events. To honour the soldiers killed in those The Minister for Veterans Affairs, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, CDF two incidents, would you allow me to read their names: LT ACM Mark Binskin AC and AIRMSHL Leo Davies AO CSC Peter Hinds, Corporal John Needs, Trooper Vivian French laid tributes to honour those who served, suffered and died and Sapper John Greene. They never got the chance to as a result of the Vietnam conflict. VP Communications and GROW OLD. Media, Lance Halvorson MBE, laid a wreath on behalf of the National President, Air Force Association. Can you imagine, 46 years later, 2015, an E mail appeared on the 9 Squadron web site, from a DIGGER wanting to make contact with the pilot who fed him “ SYDNEY” water on the 8th Dec 1969. I called in my wife Wendy to read this E mail to which she replied, “That’s interesting !!”. I said, “Sure is, that was me!!” NOW, THE DIGGER WHO SENT THAT E MAIL IS THE SAME BLOKE WHO WAS WOUNDED ON THE 21ST OF JULY, MOON LANDING DAY. AND THE SAME PERSON TO WHOM I GAVE SOME ‘SYDNEY’ WATER. THE ONLY DIGGER I KNOW WHO SURVIVED BEING BLOWN UP TWICE AND LIVED TO TELL THE STORY. MAYBE IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT THE 18TH OF AUGUST IS NOW VIETNAM VETERANS’ DAY NOT JUST LONG TAN DAY AS EVERY DIGGER WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM HAS HAD HIS OWN LONG TAN. Media Release THE PAINTING YOU SEE HERE DEPICTS THAT LAST INCIDENT. MAY I INTRODUCE THE BLOKE ON THE The Hon Dan Tehan Mp STRETCHER TO YOU: NASHO, ENGINEER, ARTIST Minister For Veterans’ Affairs EXTRAORDINAIRE, GOOD MATE AND FRIEND, SAPPER Minister For Defence Personnel DAVE STURMER. Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For Cyber Security Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For The Centenary Of Ladies and Gentlemen, consider ART EXHIBITION VIETNAM Anzac OPEN.” 7 August 2017 No change The Australian Government is committed to a stand-alone Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). This has been an election commitment by the Coalition over successive elections and remains Government policy. There are no plans to merge DVA with the Department of Human Services (DHS). There is no meeting planned for this week and there is no agreement to be signed in the near future to subsume DVA into DHS. DHS manages DVA’s ICT infrastructure under a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in 2011. Prior to this agreement DVA’s ICT infrastructure was outsourced to IBM. There has been no change to DVA’s recruitment policy. DVA continues to recruit in-line with Australian Public Service policy, with a priority on hiring staff who are passionate about supporting veterans.

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Media Release Australian Defence Force separated for reasons not of their choosing. Ten years ago, just over 740 members separated The Hon Dan Tehan Mp involuntarily. Minister For Veterans’ Affairs How we help these men and women and provide for their Minister For Defence Personnel transition is integral to ensuring that none of them fall through Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For Cyber Security the gap between Defence and civilian life. Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For The Centenary Of Anzac It is at this point that we as a Government, and as Australians, 14 August 2017 can make a real difference. This task begins in the Department of Defence and continues with the Department of Veterans’ Ministerial statement on veterans and Affairs. Currently, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs supports about their families 291,000 Australians. Just over half of these people are veterans or currently serving members of the ADF. Around 48 I ask leave of the House to give the first annual Ministerial percent are women. Around 82,000 are widows or widowers Statement on Veterans and Their Families. and around 2,500 are children of veterans. As the Prime Minister has said, in these centenary years of Today, more than 203,000 of DVA’s clients are 65 years or Anzac, we best honour the Diggers of the First World War over while about 23,000 are under the age of 40. by supporting the servicemen and women, the veterans and the families of today. This is the state of our veterans in Australia. They are representative of every aspect of service and from every walk It is important that all Australians understand the unique nature of life. They are old and young. They are from the country of service. It is important that all Australians understand what and the city. support they currently provide to our veterans. It is important that all Australians understand where our support needs to It is why, in the last twelve months, the Government has be targeted into the future. held the first Female Veterans Forum and the first Veterans Families Forum. It is why we have held the first meeting of For the men and women who serve or have served our nation; State and Territory veterans ministers, to provide input on for their husbands, wives, and children; for their mothers and how we can work together across all levels of government fathers, sisters and brothers – this Ministerial Statement is on issues such as veteran homelessness. for you. Serving our veterans requires our Government and Australians There are currently around 58,000 Australians serving in our to acknowledge the various backgrounds and needs of the Defence Forces. Some will serve overseas. Others will serve veteran community in order to put our help where it is most in barracks and bases around our country. No matter who needed. they are, all of them will become veterans. Australians should be proud that we recognise the In the Australian community, there are an estimated 320,000 importance of service and remain one of the only countries veterans who have been deployed. Many thousands more with an independent Department to serve our veterans. will not have seen service outside of Australia. These men The Government is committed to maintaining a stand-alone and women have worn their uniform in both peace time and Department for our veterans. in conflicts. They have given service from World War Two to the current deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, DVA will provide over $11 billion in payments and services. That includes pensions, income support, On average, our ADF personnel will serve for around eight compensation, healthcare, rehabilitation, counselling and half years. Each year, around 5,200 will leave. Some will services, transport, transition assistance, home care, housing, leave service and move on to new careers, using the skills commemorations, education and grants funding. and experience of their time in Defence to strengthen our workforce. Some will be business men and women, some Around $6.2 billion, or 54 percent of the Department’s budget, will be community leaders, some may enter this Parliament will be spent on providing veterans and their families with and some will go on to be Governors-General. income support and compensation. However, some may not have a choice in leaving. Through Around $5 billion, 44 percent of the Department’s budget will medical or administrative discharge, their time in Defence be spent on meeting the healthcare needs of veterans and will come to an end. their families. For these veterans, it might be the simple things that are I am pleased to note that in the recent renegotiation of hospital harder. It may be that they haven’t considered what the agreements we have secured priority for private rooms for future may hold. It may also be that they carry with them the veterans, wherever possible. burden of service – mental health conditions or injuries that I’d also like to note that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will require support. provides medical services to veterans and war widows by A key focus of this Government is on how these men and making payments to providers that are significantly higher women transition out of the Australian Defence Force. than Medicare rebates. This ensures the widest possible availability of providers for those we serve. In the last twelve months, over 1,400 members of the

WINGS Spring 2017 58 For Veterans

Around 0.8 percent of the Department’s budget will be However, permanent impairment claims have gone from 129 spent on commemorations and maintaining memorials and days and 112 days to 156 and 148 days respectively. This headstones. is not good enough and the Department has been tasked to improve it. Over 95 percent of the Department’s budget comprises payments that are legislated, fully-funded and uncapped. The Department is working on ways to leverage technology to deliver better services and cut paperwork. For example, If there is a need, it will be funded and the Department will some claims that used to take 117 days to process now only provide assistance. take 60 days. These trials are promising and the Department For example, in the 2017/18 Budget, DVA is estimated to is looking at how we can implement them across the system. spend $11.3 billion but if more veterans present with eligible However, we can only have a better service from DVA if they claims, this figure may be higher. have the tools to do the job. We have listened to the veteran The Department employs around 2,000 staff throughout community on the need to put them first with DVA. Australia. About a third of them are headquartered in We have made the first serious investment in years into the Canberra. The rest are spread across offices in each state Department – $166.6 million towards making DVA a 21st and territory, in capital cities and regional towns. century Department with a 21st century service culture. This In a typical 9 to 5, five-day week, DVA will process about 95 includes a significant investment in upgrading DVA’s computer compensation or income support forms every hour, receive systems and processes. Claims and wait times will be cut by two letters or emails every minute, and take a phone call this investment, something that is long overdue. every couple of seconds. One of the most important services we provide is mental The administration costs of the Department represent less health support. In this first Ministerial Statement on Veterans than three cents of every dollar it spends. and Their Families, I would like to focus on the issue of veteran DVA works hard to provide quick and strong support for mental health. veterans and their families. But it is not perfect. People make The Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans’ mistakes. As a result, the Department will not always get it right. Affairs spend more than $244 million a year on providing In this first Ministerial Statement on Veterans and Their mental health support and treatment to current and former Families, I also want to reflect on what we need to do better. ADF members. This includes services provided by GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and hospitals as Some in the veteran community have found the Department well as pharmaceuticals and online information and support of Veterans’ Affairs to be adversarial, slow or bureaucratic. tools. In the Department’s satisfaction survey, we have seen a It also includes access to the Veteran and Veterans’ Family distinct decline in overall satisfaction from 93 percent in Counselling Service (VVCS), which is at the frontline of the 2010 to 83 percent in 2016. While this number is still high, it Government’s veteran mental health support response and represents where the Department could have served veterans has been for more than 35 years. This service is part of the better. strong legacy of our Vietnam veterans, whose experience has For example, at the Veterans’ Review Board there were over informed how we care for modern veterans. 2,900 decisions made in 2015/16. Of these, nearly half were VVCS provides free and, importantly, confidential counselling made to change or reverse the decision of the Department. and support for current and former members of the ADF and If veterans are not satisfied with a decision of the review their families. board, they may apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. It has 26 centres around Australia and a network of more than In 2015/16, 223 of the 307 rulings of the Administrative Appeal 1,100 outreach clinicians. It delivers services to more than Tribunal were made against the Department. 27,000 members of the ADF community and their families annually. We know that getting decisions right the first time can make an enormous difference to veterans. We are working to reduce We know, the burden of mental health conditions can also fall the number of cases that go to administrative review. This will on families of veterans. be good news to our volunteer advocates, who assist veterans Over two years the Government has expanded VVCS to with their appeals. include as many families as possible. The recent Budget has Recently, we have implemented a trial of Alternative Dispute provided $8.5 million to continue to expand eligibility for VVCS. Resolution for veterans who choose to appeal a decision We recognise that as a result of a veteran’s service, children with the Veterans’ Review Board. As a result, cases that may can be affected. In March the Government allocated $2.1 have taken up to a year to resolve have been resolved in as million over two years to the Australian Kookaburra Kids little as three months. We are now rolling this out nationwide. Foundation to deliver age appropriate mental health education In 2013/14, wait times for initial liability under the Military to the children of veterans with a mental health condition. Rehabilitation and Compensation Act and for the Safety, We know mental health treatments work best when Rehabilitation and Compensation Act were 144 days and 160 intervention is early. The faster that we provide support days respectively. They have now come down to 107 and 110 to veterans, the better their chances of recovery and for days respectively. mitigating any long-term impact.

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For many years, Governments only provided mental health 1. Improving suicide prevention and mental health support support when a veteran was able to prove their condition was for serving ADF, veterans and their families. caused by their service. 2. Improving the transition process from the ADF. 3. Improving family support. Last year, the Turnbull Government decided that Australia 4. Transforming DVA’s systems, processes and culture. should provide its veterans with free and immediate mental health treatment. These reviews helped inform the Government’s action on veterans’ mental health in this year’s Budget, which included Under the scheme, any veteran who had served one day in an additional $58.6 million in mental health funding. the full-time ADF would be given full cover for five of the most common mental health conditions: post-traumatic stress, As part of this, the Government is investing $9.8 million to depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and substance abuse. pilot new approaches to suicide prevention and improve care and support available to veterans. This will include funding For the first time, an eligible veteran with one of these to increase support for those discharging from hospital and conditions didn’t have to prove it was caused by service. From who are at risk. the moment of contact with the Department to register their need for support, we would be there for them. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs also has a range of suicide awareness and prevention resources, known The Turnbull Government has now completed this reform. collectively as Operation Life. In this year’s budget, we have covered all mental health As I have already said, the moment a member of the ADF conditions. From now on any veteran of the full-time ADF will becomes a veteran is crucial so we must do better at the get free and immediate mental health cover. transition Process. This programme of non-liability mental healthcare is fully Just as members of the ADF prepare for being posted to a funded and completely uncapped – if there is a need it will deployment, we should prepare them for posting to civilian life. be met. To give some idea, when a soldier leaves the ADF they may This common sense approach to mental health support is the have never filled out a rental application, written a resume or biggest change in veterans’ policy in decades and we must used a Medicare card. continue to build on it. We know that for some ADF personnel, the transition period can As all Australians know, one suicide is one too many. Suicide bring significant change and with that change comes stress. affects all areas of our community – eight Australians a day take their own life and it remains the greatest cause of death For example, until January last year the Department of for men between the ages of 14 and 44. Defence didn’t have the capacity to notify the Department of Veterans’ Affairs when a serving member became a veteran. As we have seen, our veterans and members the ADF are Until a recent change in policy, DVA only knew of around one sadly not immune. We are determined to address suicide in in five ADF members leaving Defence. our community. Everyone has a role to play. An important component of this is the Early Engagement Last year the Government commissioned the Australian Model. The aim of the Early Engagement Model is that when Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to provide the first a serving or former ADF member needs DVA in the future, accurate, robust data ever produced on suicide among the they will already be registered with the Department. This will serving and ex-serving populations. reduce claims processing times. This study was independent of the Department of Veterans’ Another reform that will improve our processes will be to Affairs. This research is providing a greater understanding on allow Defence, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the where and how to help those who are struggling. Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation to share medical The AIHW study has revealed the suicide rate is 53 percent information on a veteran in order to save them from having to lower for men serving full-time in the ADF and 49 percent undergo up to three separate medical assessments. lower for men in the reserves when compared to the general Additionally, this Government took to the last election a population. commitment to ‘No Discharge Without Documentation’. This In all male ex-serving members, the rate of suicide is 13 initiative will ensure all separating members of the ADF leave percent higher than the general population. with the necessary documents to make the transition phase However, men who have left the ADF between the age of 18 more seamless. This includes their medical and training and 24 have twice the risk of suicide compared to their peers. records. The Government will continue to independently track this data This ongoing work is led by a Transition Taskforce that was in order to provide support. established after the last election. This information is informing our approach to suicide Veterans need to be able to walk into civilian life with prevention. confidence and dignity. The Government also asked the National Mental Health This Government is committed to making that happen through Commission to review the suicide prevention services offered the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Initiative. by Defence and DVA. Their comprehensive report told us to As the Prime Minister has said, this is not about charity. target four areas:

WINGS Spring 2017 60 For Veterans

We are not asking businesses to engage in some sort of putting forward their needs through a single body. I believe philanthropic exercise. We want to remind business leaders it is time that veterans’ organisations create a similar body that the servicemen and women of Australia have unique skills in Australia. and extraordinary experience. If veterans can form this body and provide a response to this The Initiative is about helping business appreciate the unique statement with one voice, I will ensure their response is tabled skills former ADF members can bring to a job. Launched in Parliament annually. last November, it highlights the Government’s commitment All of these are projects that will make our systems of support to improving the support provided to veterans during their for service stronger. We must commit to them each year in transition out of the ADF. order to ensure progress. Through the program’s Industry Advisory Committee on Australia should be proud of how it serves and cares for its Veterans’ Employment we will develop strategies for business veterans and their families. It is a core role of any society that to recognise and transfer the talents of our veterans into post- we serve those who have served in defence of our country service careers. and our values. Already over 1,000 jobs on the jobactive website have been As a Parliament it is our duty to watch over the care we provide identified as veteran-preferred and we will have more to say our veterans. To ensure these men and women are provided on The Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment initiative in for and that future generations understand their sacrifice. This the coming months. Ministerial Statement on Veterans and Their Families is an Helping our former Defence personnel find meaningful post- important part of that duty. It will be the touchstone of how service careers is one of the best ways we can honour their we mark our service to them each year. service and sacrifice. A key reason for giving this statement is to outline how Media Release Australia can do better for its veterans. The Hon Dan Tehan Mp Minister For Veterans’ Affairs As a Government we commit today to the following: Minister For Defence Personnel 1. A stand-alone Department of Veterans’ Affairs; Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For Cyber Security 2. A Department that focuses on the needs of the veteran Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For The Centenary Of first; and Anzac 3. A stronger voice for the veterans’ community. 15 June 2017 It is imperative that Australia continues to provide veterans with their own Department. It is the best way that their service Government passes Gold Cards for and unique needs will be recognised and provided for. BCOF and BNT veterans’ legislation However, we acknowledge that the Department must focus on the needs of those it serves as a priority. Veteran Centric Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today called on Reform, providing funding for the upgrade of the Department’s surviving participants of the British Nuclear Test (BNT) systems, and an improved service culture are the first steps. program in Australia and veterans who served as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) to register Veterans’ Affairs legislation is complex. Across three Acts, for free health care. the support that is provided to different ages and cohorts can be difficult to navigate. Parliament is looking at how we can Mr Tehan said the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) begin to modernise and simplify this legislation. This includes Budget passed the Senate today. placing all the relevant Acts under the control of the Minister Mr Tehan said the passage of the Bill meant the Government’s for Veterans’ Affairs. $133.1 million program to provide a Gold Card to the surviving In any effort to provide support, we should also look to how participants of the BNT program in Australia and veterans who we can provide payments faster. The time between making served as part of the BCOF would come into effect from 1 July. a claim and receiving rehabilitation can be lengthy. This “The Gold Card can be used by eligible former members of year’s Budget has provided for a pilot to provide rehabilitation the Australian Defence Force to pay for their health care,” to veterans as soon as they have submitted their claims Mr Tehan said. rather than after approval. If this leads to better outcomes, Parliament should look to developing this model over time “This Budget measure will also provide this health care across the veteran entitlement system. coverage for affected pastoralists, Indigenous people and other civilians determined to be within the same vicinity as Equally, we need to ensure that when the veteran community the participants of the BNT. speaks, it does so with one voice. My challenge to the veteran community is for them to respond to this statement each year “I strongly encourage anyone who believes they are eligible with a single voice so that we can better serve all veterans. under this program to contact DVA and begin the process so everything is in place for the 1 July start. In other countries, veterans’ organisations have united together into a national confederation or association, with the “Starting the process now will help people get their required varied and differing needs of each group within the community paperwork in order in time for 1 July when DVA will be able to begin processing applications.”

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WINGS Spring 2017 62 For Veterans Media Release This work was done independently of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and has produced figures on ADF The Hon Dan Tehan Mp and veteran suicide based on information provided by state Minister For Veterans’ Affairs and territory coroners. Minister For Defence Personnel Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For Cyber Security The Government also commissioned the National Mental Health Commission to review the suicide and self-harm Minister Assisting The Prime Minister For The Centenary Of Anzac prevention services available to former ADF members and 17 July 2017 their families. This helped inform the allocation of new funding of $58.6 million in the recent Budget for a range of new mental International conference to focus on health initiatives. Mr Tehan said that as a result of these studies we have a greater understanding of where and how veterans’ mental health to help those who are struggling, but as always there is more work to be done. Ministers from five countries, including Australia, will meet in Statistics relating to Australia’s approach that will be shared London this week to explore challenges faced by contemporary at the conference, include: veterans, and how governments can improve support services to help them achieve a fulfilling post-service life. • Between 2001 and 2015 there were 325 certified suicide deaths among people with at least one day of ADF service. Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan In 2015 there were 25 certified suicide deaths among ex- said the International Ministerial Conference on Veterans’ serving Defence personnel. Issues would provide an opportunity to gain insights, in particular, into how our partner nations – Canada, New • Between 2001 and 2015, there were 166 certified suicide Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States – deal with deaths among ex-serving Defence personnel. Ex-serving mental health issues and suicide prevention. men aged 18–24 were at particular risk—two times more likely to die from suicide than Australian men of the same “As well as learning from the experiences of other nations, age. Australia will contribute significantly to conference discussions, with presentations on the topics of Barriers to effective mental • Service characteristics that may be associated with health care and Current rehabilitation initiatives and proactive the higher rate of suicide in ex-serving men included: intervention for veterans,” Mr Tehan said. involuntary discharge—particularly medical discharge, short length of service (less than one year) and rank other “Ensuring we meet the mental health needs of those who than a commissioned officer. have served our country, and their families, is a fundamental priority for the Turnbull Government. • 4,414 veterans had access to PTSD treatment under non- liability health care provisions as at 31 March 2017. “We recognise the importance of veterans seeking treatment as early as possible to achieve the best recovery outcomes, • 1,599 veterans had access to alcohol dependence and which is why in the 2016 Budget the Government expanded abuse treatment under non-liability health care provisions eligibility for non-liability health care for certain mental health as at 31 March 2017. conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, • With regard to Australia’s longest running military conflict, depression, alcohol and substance abuse to anyone with one the war in Afghanistan, DVA has accepted the claims day of full time service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).” of 1,590 veterans with service-related PTSD since 11 In the 2017–18 Budget the Turnbull Government expanded October 2001. The total number of claims determined was this to cover all mental health conditions. These arrangements 1,634. mean there is no requirement to establish a causal link • DVA has also accepted the claims of 543 veterans with between a person’s military service and a mental health service-related alcohol dependency and abuse since 11 condition. Treatment is available to anyone who has served October 2001. The total number of claims determined was one day full-time in the ADF. Treatment is fully funded and 576. uncapped – if an eligible veteran needs treatment, the Government will pay for it. “One suicide is one too many and • Mr Tehan said continuing research and engagement being transparent about the mental health challenges facing across Australia with ex-service organisations, Defence serving and ex-serving Australian Defence personnel is vital,” organisations and with partner countries was an important Mr Tehan said. part of the Government’s action on improving veterans’ mental health and reducing the incidence of suicide among According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2015 there current and former members of the ADF. were more than eight deaths by suicide in Australia each day. Tragically serving and ex-serving Defence personnel are not “The Government is committed to addressing suicide and the immune from this. devastating impact it has on our community. We all have a role to play in encouraging anyone, including our ex-serving In seeking to further address this issue, the Government men and women, to seek assistance when they need it,” Mr commissioned the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Tehan said. to provide the first accurate, robust data ever produced on suicide among the serving, reserve and ex-serving populations.

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WINGS Spring 2017 68 Transition A Defence career provides many strengths, skills and the Commander’s intent at sea and at shore”. While these achievements relevant to non-Defence workplace. After examples aren’t using military-specific terms, they make basic and trade training, you accrue skills transferable statements that only you know the context of. If you wish to a civilian workplace, such as Adaptability, Attention to to use statements like these, then add examples of what detail, Cooperation, Cultural awareness and sensitivity, you refer to. For example “on my last overseas deployment Professional ethics, Reliability, Situational awareness, to Iraq, I managed a team of 10 staff for nine months to Stress management and teamwork. provide close protection and surveillance at airports, compounds and small villages.” Or “I managed a team of After managing teams, you also accumulate skills such as four highly skilled technicians over six months to operate the Coaching, Facilitating group discussion, Managing a team ship’s combat radar systems whilst under pressure on high- to meet deadlines, Mentoring, Personnel management, intensity operations”. Supervisory/management skills and Team building and leading. Bottom line - The effectiveness of your application is determined by the ratio of your applications to interviews. It is typical to think that your military role equates only to How well you promote yourself at a job interview is assessed military work. However with broader thinking you will be able by the number of job offers you get. If either of these ratios to see beyond ‘pigeon-holing’ yourself into the roles you aren’t what you’d like, seek help. There are a number of had in your military career. Take the time to explore career funding sources available if finances are an issue. options and seek guidance on aligning your transferable skills to other industries and jobs. Defence invest significant time and money in training you to think and perform your military role to achieve the military Consider your new career direction well before you leave mandate. We all know this ‘regimented way’ of operating Defence. What you decide to do is not final or absolute. In is different to most non-Defence workplaces. However, little today’s job market, the average time spent with any one (to nothing) is offered to help you know how it is different, employer is now approximately five years and ‘Y Generation’ and how to adjust when engaging with civilian employers employees are changing jobs every two years. This means and with new team mates when entering a non-Defence long-term careers are becoming less likely. Statistics show workplace. that young job seekers who leave school today will change careers (not just jobs) nine times before they retire. Therefore, Typically, the following traits are much stronger in Defence whatever decision you make today, won’t necessarily lock - Focus on safety, Teamwork, Work rate and work ethic, you in until retirement. Professionalism and Attitude to task completion. These steps should be completed before you leave Defence The greatest transition challenge is relating to civilian – know what you have to offer and know the job you’re going employers the value you bring to their organisation. You to apply them to. know you can work hard, but just saying that isn’t enough. Most ex-Defence members can get a civilian job in either Your written application is the “first impression” employers Operations, Security, Work Health & Safety or Teaching. If see of you. This includes: you think you have little to offer a commercial organisation, o CV/Résumé think again. o Cover Letter Your new supervisor may have never managed ex-Defence o Selection Criteria/Suitability Statement staff before and they may be unaware of how you are used o Linked-In profile to thinking and operating. They may have expectations of o Social Media presence you that current team members follow easily, but you may Your written application should include more than what’s on not understand because certain things ‘go without saying’. your Duty Statement. They should include your demilitarised Who is best placed to help you with your transition transferable skills that are targeted toward the industry/ and find a job on a good salary? Only someone who job you wish to attract and your workplace achievements. personally understands how challenging it is to relate Achievements tell an employer about you from a cultural military experiences to civilians and who has also worked perspective - for example, your work ethic, initiative, team in commercial workplaces can understand you, your current work, management performance, customer service and situation and help you through the next few months of your desire to improve your professional skillsets. transition. The most effective written application is one that highlights Its your choice to either find your feet through trial and error to the employer how your skills match the required skills for (which will take time), or seek assistance from those who their job vacancy. The same applies to the best way you have gone before you. How much time do you have to learn promote yourself as a job interview. through trial and error on how to compete with other job In everything you do, remove or replace military terms seekers for commercial opportunities? with every-day language. Avoid language like “I have Seeking transition assistance can be challenging, given commanded teams of various sizes on many deployments there are so many organisations out there offering help. in different situations”, or “I managed a team to achieve

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WINGS Spring 2017 70 But think of it as learning a new language, because talking looked at ways of improving training delivery and developing in military terms to a civilian employer won’t work in such individual training using technology. a competitive environment. Would you prefer to learn The first course to be reviewed was the Advanced Combat Chinese from the Aussie bloke down the road who has only Survivability (CS) course, focusing on training officers and ever taught from a book, or would you prefer to learn from sailors in damage control scenarios One of the key outcomes someone who grew up in China and now lives in Australia? of the restructure was to deliver parts of the course online, In both circumstances, you will be taught Chinese, but you as a lead-in to the residential component. will be able to speak Chinese much better from someone who knows both languages and can help with the Aussie OIC RANSSSS LCDR Col Painter said the restructure was dialogue. Choose wisely who you seek help from. a natural progression for the course, and would shift the responsibility to be prepared onto the member. For help in making a smooth transition, either Google “The aim of this program is to provide individuals with the “Defence transition”, or contact Trans-Civ (Transition to confidence in their own ability to lead their teams in a variety Civilian). of damage control scenarios at sea,” he said. “We recognised that some of our courses could be restructured to provide opportunities to enhance the Online Course to Enhance leadership lessons. “Adopting this approach to training means more high value Leadership Lessons and challenging activities can be integrated into CS courses CPL Sebastian Beurich in the future. OIC RANSSSS LCDR Col Painter said providing the “It will mean that our officers and sailors will be better Advanced Combat Survivability course online would allow equipped to meet their responsibilities in what could be quite more time to be spent on developing leadership skill sets challenging circumstances.” during the residential phase. l 6, 2017 www.defence.gov.au/ news/NAVYNEWS TRAINING 21 Sh The Australian Defence Electronic Learning Environment (ADELE) has been adopted as the platform to deliver the Keeping sailors and officers qualified is the name ofthe online training. game for the RAN School of Survivability and Ship Safety (RANSSSS), and a recent training review will help to achieve “Access to the module will allow members to familiarise that goal. themselves with the fundamentals of damage control, which will allow more time to be spent on developing leadership In response to the Training Force Plan 2018, RANSSSS has skill sets during the residential phase,” LCDR Painter said. Dental Care from People that Care We pride ourselves on providing a welcoming, safe and family friendly dental experience. We look forward to giving you an even bigger smile! • Student & Seniors discounts • Mouthguards • Open when it suits you - late • Tooth whitening • White fillings nights & Saturdays • Orthodontics • Veteran’s Affairs patients • FREE kids dental for eligible • Wisdom teeth extractions welcome children aged 2-18 • Crown, bridge & veneers • Payment plans available • New patients welcome We are preferred providers of Smile, Defence Health & Medibank Private Ensure you get the maximum rebate by seeing Walloon Dental

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WINGS Spring 2017 71 Savannah Lodge • Quality self contained Rooms • Tropical Garden Setting • Swimming Pool • Large Deck area for dining • Free Guest BBQ • Wireless Internet • EFTPOS Facilities • Guest pick up from the Airport • Breakfast available • Other meals can be arranged Savannah Lodge is a small family owned and operated accommodation establishment, providing friendly and personalised service to all our guests. Our beautiful garden setting creates a cool tropical and peaceful atmosphere. Advance bookings advisable. Cnr Beames and Bowen Street, Burketown P : 07 47455177 | F : 0747455211 E : [email protected] | www.savannah-lodge.com

AVIONICS Sales - All major brands. AVIATION Certified Pre-owned Radio’s. VALUATIONS Repairs - CASA Approved Workshop FIXED WING & ROTARY and technicians experienced on 1970’s to current equipment. Specialising in Finance & Corporate Valuations Country airports and some Australia Wide with offices overseas locations serviced in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne & Perth. SKYLIGHT AVIONICS PTY LTD CONTACT Tim Deeble Essendon Airport Phone: 02 4028 0011 Mobile: 0411 231 536 - Established 1984 16774 NAAA Senior Certified Aircraft Appraiser AVAA Valuer Member No. 374. PH: (03) 9379 7845 slatteryauctions.com M: 0412 244 662

WINGS Spring 2017 72 67 Widdop Street, Clayfield Qld 4011 | (07) 3637 0111 www.aviationhigh.eq.edu.au | [email protected]

Aviation High School is a small, quality independent public In the Junior School: school in Clayfield, Qld that excels in student academic - 2017 Naplan results significantly above state and national achievement in all areas of the Junior (Year 7 – 9) and Senior averages – 100% students above NMS in Year 9 numeracy (Year 10 – 12) curriculum. We offer all of our students many - All units follow the Australian curriculum opportunities to excel in any field in which they are interested. - From 2018 STEM is a compulsory semester subject for Our affiliation with the Aerospace Project Schools Gateway sets students in year 7 us apart through our opportunities for students to engage in aircraft maintenance and engineering, cabin crew, pilot courses, Aviation High School: unmanned aircraft vehicles and aerospace studies. Our values • Only has your child’s best interests at heart of respect, responsibility, learning, integrity and passion for • Is small enough for everyone to know everyone’s name Aviation High underpin all facets of our school. (average class size in the junior school is 22) In 2016 in the Senior School: • Has a welfare program that builds relationships and - 90% received OP 1- 15 resilience and caters for students’ social, emotional and academic wellbeing - 100% QCE attainment • Has state of the art facilities - 100% OP or Vocational Education Qualification • Engages students through the Art and Science of Teaching ITPQ3772B Defence Force personnel $pecial discount on tax preparation QLD ONLY (EXCEPT TOOWOOMBA)

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WINGS Spring 2017 73 Melville SHS Aviation Student in Geraldton Mercy Flight Melville SHS is pumping out Pilots. The Specialist Aviation School has MELVILLE had keen cohorts of students coming SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL through its program who are flying Specialist Aviation Program before they finish school. One example MAX SPEED: MACH 0.885 • MAX RANGE: 12,501 KM • MAX ALTITUDE: 15,545 M Melville Senior High School is one of only four Aviation is Year 12 student Scott Morgan. Last Specialist programs in WA. Specialist classes are offered December Scott was the youngest from Years 7 to 10 and then Senior School Aviation student in WA to obtain his PPL Studies courses are available in Years 11 and 12. The school has two flight simulators and two qualified licence. He is now the first high school flight instructors. Many former students have found student to complete further training to employment in the aviation industry. obtain complex aircraft endorsements including retractable undercarriage and variable-pitch propeller, aerobatics rating, multi-engine and Tailwheel endorsement. Recently Scott had the most exciting day of his aviation career when he volunteered to fly to Geraldton for the final leg with ex-Melville student Thomas Ayoub, to rescue puppies from death row in Dubbo NSW. They flew n 8-seater Piper Navajo in an Australian-first trip for organisation Fly4Paws. Scott said “I have now flown over 130 hours since starting Year 8 in 2014 with Mr Randall Brink as my instructor. I would now like to start flying for a Commercial Licence. After that, I will be able to get paid for flying and hope to get a job either with DFES conducting ‘Fire-Spotting’ or with a charter company while I build hours for a pathway into an airline”. Confident Innovative Successful www.melville.wa.edu.au Melville SHS is the only school in WA to have two flight simulators, allowing the two course flight instructors to coordinate the many students keen to get experience. Six students have gone solo in the last year ages mainly 16 and 17. PT6 FUEL NOZZLES DUE FOR MAINTENANCE? CALL MR PT6......

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07 3802 2163 • 0405 737085 Theoretical max range is based on cruise at Mach 0.80 with eight passengers, four crew and NBAA IFR fuel reserves. Actual range will be affected by ATC routing, operating speed, weather, outfitting options and other factors. WINGS Spring 2017 74 MAX SPEED: MACH 0.885 • MAX RANGE: 12,501 KM • MAX ALTITUDE: 15,545 M

More Gulfstream aircraft perform government and military service than any other large-cabin business jets in the world. Though the missions vary, the requirements are resolute: unsurpassed performance and proven reliability. An efficient business-jet platform means crews fly high and fast for extended periods. Whatever your mission, Gulfstream delivers.

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Theoretical max range is based on cruise at Mach 0.80 with eight passengers, four crew and NBAA IFR fuel reserves. Actual range will be affected by ATC routing, operating speed, weather, outfitting options and other factors. WINGS Spring 2017 75 THE POWER FOR TODAY’S DEFENSE. THE TECHNOLOGY FOR TOMORROW’S.

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WINGS Spring 2017 76